By Susan Wurtzburg
Susan J. Wurtzburg is a retired academic, and lives in Hawai‘i. She writes between outdoor activities, and socializing online, while she waits for the pandemic to diminish.
The U.S.A. has been hit by two major problems: Covid-19, and the Trump presidency. The combination has been challenging for everyone, and national political incompetence decreased and continues to affect the states’ abilities to deal with the pandemic. The outcomes are well known: wage loss, homelessness, repression, hunger, illness, and death. As a result, everyone I know has been massively stressed. My emotional health has been improved by writing poetry, and I am thankful to have found a collaborative group online (Rat’s Ass Review Workshop), which has provided a supportive writing community at a time when I desperately needed this. Immersing myself in the creative process helps to distract me from current events, and also provides an outlet for my political commentary. Writing allows me to voice the pain of 2020, and to consider life experiences thoughtfully, despite the chaos of living in the U.S.A.
I love “the audible measure / of this year’s pain on my body.” Well done.
I feel less emotionally stressed by reading this poem. How perfect this is: “…an audible measure / of this year’s pain on my body.” I enjoyed reading the explanation underneath, too.
Such a perfect commentary on 2020. Wonderful images. Love the zipper image.
I love your poem, Sue!
Nice work! I almost want a quip about an eight word summary of a six word story, but that is the little snicket weasel inside me trying to be a jokester. Your phrase “this year’s pain” and the zipper and poem on stamina all ring damned true!
Susan, I relish the way you’ve expressed how Covid and politics has gotten into our very innards. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the positive comment. Looking forward to better times!