Dear Corona. A poem by Alana Smith
This poem is part an ongoing series of journalism produced as part a collaboration between The Sacramento Bee, Sol Collective and other community organizations called the “Community to Newsroom Pipeline.” To learn more or to contribute, email us at voices@sacbee.com.
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Dear Corona,
You are a woman of intensity with intentions of atrocity.
You visited me in March of 2020
You brought me no letters
no greetings
no warnings
You approached me smiling, looked into my eyes, and whispered in my ear:
“Watch out I have a surprise”
What a surprise it was to meet you
Your outbreak outweighed the high stakes of my senior year.
Fear creeped upon me sensing your presence was near
Here to spread your pain through illness
Your willingness is sickening
killing
weakening bodies and economies
You’re heartless.
Separating me from my family now everything’s done virtually
The tragedies repeatedly multiplying like the virus you birthed
Now morphed into a worldwide sensation
Coast to coast undergoing isolation
An annihilation of human connection
A cancellation of my senior graduation
A stagnation to student’s education
A stimulation to mental depression
A continuation of severe starvation
Will there ever be any reparations or restoration?
Oh dear Corona, you are the cause of this destruction.
Your surprise was only demise
your presence no longer a disguise.
Listen, my new normal revolves around you
Time to reduce my risk of exposure to you
Wear my mask in hopes of avoiding you
Put on my latex gloves to not touch you
Use my soap and water in hope of washing away all of you
I hope you leave in due time, so time can revert back to the good times.
Sincerely,
Your Victim
Alana Irene Smith is a 17 year old, standout senior at Natomas Charter School Performing Fine Arts Academy where she maintains a 4.0 GPA; she will attend Howard University in the fall. Alana’s love of acting and spoken word has afforded her numerous opportunities and awards on a national, regional and local level. This piece, “Dear Corona,” was written to signify her experience as a senior and to highlight the repercussions during this pandemic era.
Instagram: @alanaismith