Something in the news, us laughing at a lame excuse –

A Dutchman on video call from South Sudan,

Taplin delivery delayed because of an outbreak in China

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Some industrial city, and also, well… Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year is hardly an unforeseen circumstance,

And this Corona thing… perhaps… but what are the chances it will affect us?

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Here, expect the unexpected, Ebola haunting our Congo boarder,

Troublesome elements crossing from South Sudan, rumors,

Locusts from Somali and Ethiopia, floods, drought, landslides.

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Illness and death amongst the poor are often sudden and unexamined

Every fever is malaria, untested but treated, it usually goes away

God’s ways are mysterious, superstition lurks, drugs in short supply.

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I following in ghoulish fascination as the numbers climb, as the bubbles grow,

The map flushes, science shifts. Bats and pangolins, DNA, RNA, petri-dishes and labs,

Wet markets and super-spreaders, tears and applause, debates about masks.

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Leaders are suddenly popular again… something to believe in,

Initially it seems we see the sheep separate from the goats, but no one

Knows history’s, or even next year’s judgement. Braying asses may fumble on truths

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All in lock-down now; friends in crowded Asian cities, Nordic family in spring,

Comedy show hosts, those down the street – our lives are quiet and similar,

Excessive screen time, short excursions, Zoom, the struggle with snacking.

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Perplexity and disbelief turn to acceptance, long days pass shockingly fast,

Workdays run reassuringly smooth, blue skies so stunningly clear,

Curfew nights are astonishingly quiet and despite odd dreams, I sleep surprisingly well.

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Kampala 2019