by Kim Karpeles

I’m a miniscule virus

Only scientists with scopes can see.

I’ve many brothers and sisters,

I go by Number Nineteen.

I have ways to get around,

But prefer to travel by air,

Seeping through heat ducts and vents,

Creeping silently upstairs.

Sneezing, coughing and singing

Make my life even more fun,

I can spread faster and further,

Meeting special new someones.

Chorus:

Bet you wish I’d stayed in China,

Never ventured to new lands,

Hadn’t expanded your vocabulary,

Or scrambled all your plans.

Bet you wish you didn’t live alone

Or maybe that you did,

That you’d never heard my name before,

 – I’m the virus Covid.

You thought I’d go down easy

If you scrubbed and sprayed and cleaned,

Bought Clorox and Lysol to disinfect

Wore gloves, looked serious and mean.

You stockpiled rolls of toilet paper,

Frozen pizzas and cauliflower,

Wasn’t going to keep me out,

Did you feel some security and power?

You thought if you lived in bubbles and pods

I’d disappear, fade away,

But when you came out you discovered

The nasty pest remained.

Chorus:

Bet you wish I’d stayed in China,

Never ventured to new lands,

Hadn’t expanded your vocabulary,

Or scrambled all your plans.

Bet you wish you didn’t live alone

Or maybe that you did,

That you’d never heard my name before,

 – I’m the virus Covid.

I’ve wreaked havoc, caused pain and distress

Postponed weddings and divided friends,

Cancelled ceremonies and concerts,

Exhausted people hoping I’ll end.

Someday my secrets will be unlocked

Weakened by vaccines and pills,

Til’ then you’re wearing masks and waving,

Baking bread and paying the bills.

Chorus:

Bet you wish I’d stayed in China,

Never ventured to new lands,

Hadn’t expanded your vocabulary,

Or scrambled all your plans.

Bet you wish you didn’t live alone

Or maybe that you did,

That you’d never heard my name before,

 – I’m the virus Covid.

Kim Karpeles is the Director of Communication for a mid-sized church in Northbrook, Illinois. She holds two masters degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; one in Systematic Theology, the other in Christian Studies. Kim enjoys reading, sudoku puzzles, travel, and learning Spanish.