Flu

Swine, chicken, bird flu
This baby virus favors humble creature comfort for its inception.
It snuggles into feather beds,
Luxuriates in piggy pens,
Developing unhindered into a version
Soon viable for transplant into unwilling human hosts.

They cursed the pigs,
“Filthy creatures – kill them all- butcher the lot!”
and called for the burning of the birds
“Destroy the fowl where that bug breeds!” they cried.
“Close the farms and KILL, KILL, KILL”
White coated slaughter
walking the world in masks.

Swine and Fowl martyred in the name of Fear
Frantic Fear of the little Virus that Could
and the animals died
but the virus lived on.

It surfaced in Mexico.
How could it so inconvenience holiday-makers?
Many were forced to cancel Winter vacations.

H1N1 a new title now
Renamed to transcend the swine.
A valiant virus.
A tiny titan with a reputation even greater than its reality
Of pandemic proportion.

Pandemic panic!

Frantic families.
Dying children.
Pregnant women at risk!
Vaccinate!
Don’t wait
Or the Swine Flu will get you too!