I woke yesterday
the weight of a heavy boot on my chest
and a violent force pulling upward
a reverse gravitational pull
I struggled to heave in a healthy supply of air
the pressure was suffocating
never once did I think
the plague that's consuming our planet
annihilating our humans
has come for me, no
it was a familiar breathlessness
fear and anxiety rising from the belly
up into the throat from below
it was a fear I had not faced
since this pandemic began its destruction
the fear is not physical vulnerability
or viral susceptibility
not toilet paper availability
my fear is educational responsibility
are we doing it right
are we doing enough
how do we know
how can we know
before it's too late
there's no plan for this, no research
to guide us on this unchartered mission
all we can do is the best we know how
we hope that it's enough
and that our children will be ok
that we will all be ok
