Live to tell, or: Breathe

Posted on by ben Alexander

Poetry Partners #82

‘No, Covid is Not Gone Yet!’ a poem by Robert J Jr. of ‘Robert’s Snap Spot’

Unexpected change in life.
Omicron.

Emergency Room. Doom. Crying.
Pneumonia in Lungs. Not the fatal end… Huh! Sent home

Emergency Room. Admitted to COVID-19 ward, husband can visit.
Sunday, COVID ward, “COVID-19 Ward… No visit except EOL!

FaceTime becomes life. Lung doctors, Blood clots and ultra sounds.
Five times daily. No day spa.

Lung doctors, discharged oxygen “portable” and medications. Home! Ten steep steps up to apartment!

Hum of oxygen machine, air hose trailing. Taken breathing for granted?
Home Build lungs back. Walking slow, hose trailing.

Apartment second floor. Bridesmaids cackle, laugh under window, tourist! Did I mention unexpected change life?

Sit at the edge of the bed, Ok, Breathe.
Sit at the end of my favorite wingback chair, Ok, Breathe.

Stand up, slowly. Steady feet. Ok, Breathe.
Slow walk to the dining room table. Slow walk to the bathroom. Breathe.

Remember there is an oxygen hose always trailing. Over the your ears, in your nose.
Yes! Breathe! In the through the nose, then blow out the birthday candle. Breathe.

A ‘Cyrch A Chwta’ poem by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

COVID, a new worldwide hell,
has left scores of tales to tell.
Death counts continue to swell...
many bid loved ones farewell.
Victims with damaged brain cells;
some can neither taste nor smell;
some short of breath or in pain...
Struck by strains none could foretell.

Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!

List of Poetry Partners

  1. Murisopsis
  2. Judy Dykstra-Brown
  3. Jennifer Patino
  4. Mike L. Utley
  5. Barbara Schaefer
  6. Ron Rowland
  7. Cheyenne MacMasters
  8. Rae Cod
  9. Eric Erb
  10. Chris Reilley
  11. Jim-
  12. Selma Martin
  13. Vidah (Chavi)
  14. varityteller
  15. Quaranjavirus
  16. Kunjal
  17. Coco
  18. Lov Verma
  19. bodypositivefemme
  20. Steven S. Wallace
  21. Shay Simmons
  22. Constance Bourg
  23. C. L. Barton
  24. Madamchryzl
  25. Sangeetha
  26. Jo
  27. Audrey Duff
  28. Gillena Cox
  29. Yasmin
  30. Martha Anewa
  31. Malalai Khan
  32. Adam Taylor
  33. trE
  34. Cindy Georgakas
  35. paeansunplugged
  36. davidatqcm
  37. Orion Foote
  38. Susi Bocks
  39. Mister Bump UK
  40. Kate Blake
  41. Freddie Omm
  42. kittysverses
  43. enchantedwords
  44. Saint Gaona
  45. Alan Steinle
  46. Karina Lutz
  47. Sarah David
  48. Beka Tucker
  49. Maria L. Berg
  50. Colleen M. Chesebro
  51. Jane Aguiar
  52. Jan Beekman
  53. royalpalmtree
  54. Marian
  55. M Jay Dixit
  56. Ken Hume
  57. Naa Lamiorkor Boye
  58. Reena Saxena
  59. Bridget
  60. Ash Evan Lippert
  61. Freya Pickard
  62. Harshi
  63. LaMon Brown
  64. Nomad
  65. Vedran Markovic
  66. The.Richard.Braxton
  67. Kim Whysall-Hammond
  68. Jeff Flesch
  69. hutschi
  70. Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris
  71. Anca
  72. douryeh
  73. enchantedwords
  74. Kerfe
  75. Puvanesvari Rajan
  76. MistyBlue
  77. Henry Mworia
  78. Anna Smit
  79. Larry Trasciatti
  80. Sarah Cope
  81. Filipa Moreira da Cruz
  82. Robert J. Jr.
  83. Rosemary McMahan
  84. Iswar Kar
  85. Mapule Somo
  86. Anne Morrigan
  87. George Ellington
  88. J. P.
  89. Christine Bialczak
  90. Shalini Kathuria Narang
  91. LaToya Williams
  92. Maitreyee Telang
  93. Amelia Michelle Nicol
  94. A. J. Wilson
  95. Nick Pipitone
  96. Myrna Migala
  97. Kathy Labrum McVittie

33 thoughts on “Live to tell, or: Breathe”

  2. David, I tried to reblog your post but could not. Instead, I cut and pasted your poems with a link back to your site.

  4. These are wonderful poems. It is not over yet, and I am disturbed by those who think it is. Losing family and friends means even if this truly ever becomes a part of our past, it will still be a part of our grieving heart.

  5. As Yogi said, it ain’t over till it’s over. We can pretend all we want. A reflection of the experience of far too many. (K)

  10. So very true that this pandemic is still out there. With many nurses in the family, who have had COVID and are still struggling with the long term effects, I am painfully aware of the dangers. Both poems are accurate and terrifying!

  12. Excellent; thought provoking tale by Robert here of the long term effects Covid 19 seems to have on sufferers of it! In particular the breathing aspect! 👍👏 And you sum it up perfectly David in your
    description of the various strains and deaths suffered. You’re right, it hasn’t gone away!

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