24 OCTOBER ASKING AFTER THE HEALTH OF AMERICA

PERSONS  DEFINED  

AS ESPECIALLY CLINICALLY VULNERABLE           

ARE READILY DISCERNIBLE  

SHIELDING SINCE BEFORE THE CLOCKS WENT FORWARDS   

THEIR INDOOR PALLOR’S UNMISTAKABLE   

NOW THE LITTLE HAND’S LEAPING BACKWARDS  

TO GREENWICH MEAN TIME      

BUT WHAT OF A NATION UNDERGOING ISOLATION?  

IN THE UNITED STATES’  PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES   

THE SIGNS WEREN’T NEARLY AS CLEAR       

OMISSION DOESN’T GLARE

WHEN OTHER CONCERNS ARE THERE    

BUT PERHAPS THAT’S THE POINT  

WAS IT CLOSER TO CLOSURE  

OF THE AMERICAN MIND?      

IS THIS FRAILTY THAT MAY FALL AWAY  ON SPRING DAYS?  

OR DRAWING IN LIKE THE LONG NIGHT  

WISHING THAT AMERICA'S DECLINE 
MAY NOT CAUSE 
TOO MANY CASUALTIES 
YOURS TRULY 
THE NEWS POET