Strangely Forward

like out of a sci-fi film
the tension builds
as our reality becomes an unrealistic
and an unwanted fantasy
we’d never have dreamt up willingly

personal habits mutated overnight, for some
people affected before our eyes, everyone
all steps ventured became tentative
a feeling of a strange abnormal that couldn’t be defined
the markers of who to be kept changing

many were lost, not just the dead
their lives upended with new realities of despair
retreating into themselves, forced there
alone with the grim reaper
loved ones watching from afar, helpless

covid-19 will cease to be eventually
oh, but the cost of the lessons learned
as mentally, emotionally and physically we heal
the scars of devastation will linger
the pain of the losses great
as we, the left behind, begin to emerge anew