CIRCLE WITH A DOT

A response
to the stranger
who told me that they
look forward to the day
when I stop writing these:
please know
that there is nobody
who looks forward to the day
when I can stop writing these
more than me.

It was on this day
six years ago
that many
found themselves
wondering how
long they and their coworkers
would work from home.

It is on this day
six years later
that many
find themselves
wondering how
come they and their coworkers
are always getting sick.

It was on this day
six years ago
that the WHO
officially declared
COVID-19
a global pandemic.

So it is on this day
six years later
that all of us
officially enter
the seventh year
of this pandemic.

When you hear people ask
(and you will hear people ask)
if these machines
are conscious,
please try to remember:
that the question is not
if these machines
are conscious,
but why it is that we
treat people
we know are conscious
like they are machines.

An important clarification:
when you hear people say
“during Covid”
they do not mean
back when they
were at risk of catching Covid,
for (alas) that time remains,
no, when you hear people say
“during Covid”
they mean
back when they
were trying not to catch Covid.

Though he already knew
the answer,
my work friend asked
if I was still planning
on keeping my mask on
at the work reception,
and as I knew
what he was really asking
I replied that yes,
he could have
my drink tickets.

By this point
you have likely heard that
“Shrinking sea ice
threatens future
for emperor penguins
say scientists,”
but before you reply
that you are a human
and not a penguin,
please note:
scientists say
shrinking sea ice
threatens your future too.

The historian
told me
that the state
of the union
is sick.

The climatologist
told me
that the state
of the union
is sick.

The activist
told me
that the state
of the union
is sick.

The epidemiologist
told me
that the state
of the union
is sick
(though she
meant it literally).

By now
you have likely seen it reported
that “Meta plans
launch of facial recognition
to smart glasses
in ‘dynamic political environment’,”
so even though you already have
more than enough reasons
to keep wearing a mask
now you have yet another one.