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."