Good News - Karen Wang
The other day, I read the headline:
"Good news as BC reports no fresh community outbreaks
and just one death."
I wonder how we got here
patting ourselves on the back for
just one death.
I wonder what the death's name was
if they were young or old
or somewhere in a stagnant midlife
if they worked on the front lines
I wonder if the death liked their job
if they got along with their parents
if they got along with their children
I wonder if the death had children
I wonder if the death wanted children
I wonder what else they wanted:
a new car? a father's forgiveness? a mask?
I wonder what the death looked like
behind their mask.
There have been 5562 deaths in Canada from COVID-19
and I do not wonder their names.
I do not wonder who they loved.
I do not wonder how they lived.
I wonder the shape of a faceless curve
whether or not numbers flatten
I wonder what number I can count up to
before I forget how I got there
how do you know if a statistic is flattening?
I wonder how many people wonder this.
I wonder how many days before I can give someone a hug.
I wonder how many days before you forget someone's face.
I wonder what death looks like
when you cannot see their faces
how do you know they are dying?
The other day, I read the headline:
"Good news as BC reports no fresh community outbreaks
and just one death."