6 MAY IN RETIREMENT

RAFAEL BENJAMIN WAS FIVE DAYS SHORT OF RETIREMENT WHEN HE FELL SICK AND DIED   

IT WAS BUSINESS AS USUAL IN ESSENTIAL PACKING PLANTS     AMERICA NEEDS ITS MEAT  OBVIOUSLY  

‘WORKERS STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER’  WOULD HAVE DESCRIBED THEIR SOLIDARITY ONCE UPON A TIME

NOW IT MEANS THEY’RE MORE EXPOSED WORKING IN CRAMPED CONDITIONS LEAVES THEM VULNERABLE    

TO A VIRUS RELENTLESS AS CAPITAL        

LESS THAN A MONTH AGO FACE COVERINGS SIGNALED CRIMINALITY  OR MAYBE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE   

NOW THEY’RE CENTRAL TO THE NEW RITUALS OF LEAVING LOCKDOWN   

ALSO FEATURING DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATERS  WITH CARS SOCIAL DISTANCING ROUND A BIG SCREEN 

FEAR OF OTHERS    SPREADING FAST   REVEALS ITSELF IN RECURRING  RETIREMENT        

TO THE BUBBLE IN MY CAR AND THE SAFE SPACE BEHIND THE MASK

WISHING THAT THE PANDEMIC WILL NOT LEAVE A LEGACY OF SELF-FULFILLING FEAR    

YOURS TRULY     

THE NEWS POET