Mistaken Freedom
Swift, this death
sweeping across the globe
catching unawares
those most susceptible,
the frail and compromised,
the aged with defenses down.
Just as swift, the defiance
by those mistaking freedom
from regulation to be
the right to subject others
to the risk of death.
This is my response to Quadrille: swift,
the prompt from Sarah at dVerse ~ Poets Pub, which is to use
a form of the word swift in a 44-word poem, with no required meter or rhyme.
Image source: Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center
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rivrvlogr 
117 million!?!? and yet masks aren’t mandated across the globe? I remember reading about Singapore’s new no smoking in public policy years ago. If you got caught you were jailed and caned as your sentence. I’m willing to try anything right now. As it mutates it compounds the danger of death and enough have died 😦
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They had leftover vaccine (more than 7,000 doses) for events in rural Missouri that they had to redirect before they expired, because people don’t want it. Go figure. Meanwhile, they’re crying for it in St. Louis & Kansas City, so the distribution is changing to send the bulk to the cities.
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Want to hear something cool yet sad? Dolly Parton created a video where she rewrote the lyrics of Jolene to Vaccine, trying to convince the stupid to get vaccinated. Isn’t Dollywood in Missouri?
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Tennessee, but we’re neighbors, so there’s that.
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Also, my son who works at the hospital gets his 2nd dose of the vaccine tomorrow. 28 days later he’ll be safe
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I got my second dose10 days ago.
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Good for you!!!!!! 18 days and counting….
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Why did I think Arkansas was so much farther west? You’re a hop, skip, and a jump away from MI!
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Missouri, so even closer. We went to MI for our “honeymoon.”
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Oh dear, I’m batting 0 aren’t I. Why was I thinking Arkansas?? Probably that movie I saw a few months ago (see how my mind (doesn’t) work)? I remember those pics you took, wasn’t that up in the UP on that island? (knowing I guessed that one wrong also.)
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Presqu Isle 🙂
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Hey-hey Dolly – makes my day!
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🙂
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Well said Ken. What right have we to expose others??
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Indeed! Thank you, Dwight.
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So true–swiftly traveling epidemics and ignorance,
And that’s so sad (and frustrating) about the people who won’t get a vaccine.
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Sigh
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What a timely poem, packed with truth. Bravo!
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Thank you, Beverly!
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OMG this is so on point. Bravo
Happy Monday, thanks for dtopping by to read mine
Much💜love
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Thank you, Gillena. 🙂
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Concise and yet comprehensive – you’ve pinned the tail on the donkey, Ken.
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Thanks, Jazz.
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sigh I’m so sick and tired of this situation. I know we can’t pretend it doesn’t exist, but I really want to.
Well done, Ken.
-David
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Thanks, David.
I keep telling myself I won’t write about it.
Oh, well.
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No, no. we have to. I know we have to.
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I’m thankful my 87 yr. old father survived covid and now has been vaccinated…time to set us free!
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I know of elderly who have not survived, so I’m glad your father is among the fortunate.
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This is well written. Every word is working hard.
This isn’t about critique, but you could remove the “Just” starting the second stanza (It’s my over-used word, so I’m always looking for taking it out), then add “and” in the last line of the first stanza: the aged and with defenses down.
This small change would increase the scope of the problem. 🙂
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Thank you for your suggestions.
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So very sad, but true.
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Thank you, Ingrid.
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Your title is perfect, Ken, and your quadrille is spot-on. I am still hunkering down, staying away from those who believe they can do what they want with no regard for others. At the weekend, I was anxious about walking through the village I live in as there were so many people who were not from around here and not social distancing.
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Thank you, Kim.
We went to a restaurant for my birthday, and promptly walked back out. Every single seat was taken, except for the offered two seats at the full-service bar. Even there it was elbow-to elbow – and not one staff member wore a mask. We then went to a small Greek restaurant where the tables were spaced and every employee wore a mask. Missouri is called “The Show-Me State. That now seems to mean, “Show me a dead body and I’ll throw a linen over it and use it as an extra table.” 😦
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Nice one, Ken. There is a lot of craziness out there. Interestingly, in the Uk the uptake rate among the elderly has been massive, but it seems to be younger people who are questioning vaccination more. Of course, they have never seen things like polio, or even measles. They take their health for granted.
We were discussing state capitals last night, and our complete ignorance of them! What’s the state capital of Missouri????
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That would be here – Jefferson City, Missouri, the small town that likes to think it’s a big city.
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And thank you, Sarah. 🙂
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No one could have shared this message better! Cheers. Missouri is where I spent a nice portion of my life ……
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Thank you, Helen.
I know that reluctance is not consistent across Missouri, and that it’s not alone among states with that issue, but it’s extremely frustrating.
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We wouldn’t need any regulation if we were capable of following the simple advice of staying apart… but it seems like rules are the only things that work
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So true… when they’re followed. Thanks, Björn.
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The post sixties “my rights” in whatever culture has infected the world. For me interdependence across species is critical, how to get back to that? Yes mistaken freedom indeed Ken.
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It seems almost impossible. Thank you, Paul.
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Sadly so, and, my pleasure.
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Still happening. (sigh) (K)
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Yes. 😦
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Great piece and I love the title. Unfortunately there’s a lot of selfishness going around.
Here’s a poem I wrote about the pandemic. Check it out if you feel inclined to do so.🙂
https://homestudyfromthegratefulheart.com/2021/03/05/why-does-the-caged-bird-sing/
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Selfishness, indeed. Thank you.
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