L-I-F-E, A Masque Haunt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

2020 has seen rising tensions across the entire spectrum of humanity, testing even the strongest of human spirits, bringing out the worst as well as the best in us; the worst, caving in to frustration and rage while others struggle to act as peacemakers against a Here-and-Now subject to invisible tide of Covid-19. 

In 2020 the world has almost certainly seen and shared in the devastating effects of more pain and premature deaths than for centuries, bringing some of us together while driving others apart, and leaving many to fend for themselves as best they can. 

Yet, where there is life, there really is hope and our hopes for better, kinder times ahead lie in the making and delivering of vaccines designed and tested to defeat the coronavirus once and for all; the word is, it can defeat the new variant also. 

It will be some time yet before everyone has been vaccinated. In the meantime, we can but let Hope take root in us and let it rise above the unkinder and more negative qualities with which human nature is so often likely to engage whenever under duress; at the same time, we should try and make allowances for the latter, too, both in ourselves as well as in others, while not letting it get the better of either, if only because that is doing no one any favours. 

L-I-F-E, A MASQUE HAUNT 

I come in all shapes and forms,
attacking mind-body-spirit, part by part
as time goes by
without its always being on the alert
or understanding why
it feels undermined, drained of everyday
life forces
like hope, resolve, stoicism, even the power of love
threatened by an invisible enemy 

I bring out the worst and the best
in humanity worldwide, made answerable
for such feelings
and actions no more in keeping with us
than our losing heart
for waking each new day with a sense of dread
the growing weight
of daily trying to makes sense of ever moving goalposts
as likely as not foiling all finer aspirations 

Ah, but the human hearts dances
to many a tune just as love comes in many
shapes and forms;
people, places, memories, all configuring
inner strengths
within even a failing mind-body-spirit, urging it
to do battle with me,
defeat my best agents conspiring to bring it down any way
they can, and will, unless it calls them out 

I am called Stress, in any Masque Haunt, its natural leader
until Love steps up, blows my cover, takes over 

Copyright R. N. Taber, 2020