Life in the Time of Corona Detail for Emerald Coast Writers

Viral Hurt

John Gibson

“Immuno-compromised, orphaned-at-12-by-sickness”
Sits brooding at the window,
Staring into an uncertain universe;
Anxiety rising like the
Heat wave brought on by early Spring and Summer;
Her mind a frail admixture
Of pain-stricken, doleful memories
Fueling the turmoil of today.

“Recovering, relapsing, needs-to-keep-busy”
Ambles by
In search of something to kill the idleness –
And just maybe stave off that hard-liquor demon once more.
A can of paint for that drab-colored garage,
Or a box of nails,
Anything to thwart the ol’ Beam bottle.

“Immuno-compromised” bellows
That now-common refrain about “staying home” –
About “doing your part” …and other choice daggers
Meant to drive home the point – and drive in pain.

“Recovering” is now, in earnest, recovering,
This time with the added handicap
Of weighty expectations of the masses upon him;
Vile words and hurts transferred – shared – between broken people,
Beings united by pain, and not humanity.

Life in the Time of Corona

Within weeks after March 11, 2020 World Health Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, West Florida Literary Federation offered its writers a catharsis. By April, regional writers were submitting words and images to preserve this time in history. The ongoing project began with Phase I, a special edition of The Legend published in May. It featured more than thirty juried submissions. Life in the Time of Corona continues with Phase II, updated as submissions are accepted. Here are the voices of health care workers, poets, essayists, historians, and the images of artists and photographers, documenting this time in Northwest Florida's history. The ongoing project ends with the advent of a vaccine or declaration by the World Health Organization.

Life in the Time of Corona Detail for Emerald Coast Writers

Viral Hurt

Viral Hurt

Life in the Time of Corona

CONTENTS

Photo Essay

Prose

Poetry

Short Fiction

The Legend