CLOSE THE COUNTRY

many many more cases today

it’s as if talking about it

makes people feel sicker

I had to reassure a child

whose care was cut for lack of funds

when the committee declared a crisis

told him how it’s going

to be all right  it’s

almost over  but I know better

there are remedies

I told the committee

the carriers are the problem

they seem happy and healthy

yet more people are sick

struck down inexplicably

there are no funds left

to provide rudimentary relief

homes are being abandoned

if only the media

had reported when it began

symptoms could have been treated

why do the carriers thrive

while all these people die?

why are they immune?

we only have words now

that we are afraid to utter

lest we are taken ourselves

yet I have studied this disease

I believe it must be talked about

the only hope to find a cure

people must go to the committee

demand emergency actions and the funds

the carriers have been given

for I fear the committee will let it

burn itself out on those of us

who are weak and most susceptible

then say to us as I said to the child

it’s all right now  all over

you can go about your business now

Peter Buknatski

Montpelier, VT.

(Thank you, Al stop)