In Flew Enza Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

WHO had not erred,
its warnings stand,
world governments well knew
sick trick preferred -
few understand -
my species' hops on cue.

Immune award
men must demand
alerts, surveillance too,
coherent chord,
strong words not bland,
sought global overview.

Some ranted, roared,
some risks ignored
in/on_ward health askew,
converge toward
win/win reward
new antibody clue.

Drugs undeterred,
injections canned,
from man to man we flew,
ants may record
Man by the board
like flies dropped, captain, crew.

Genes undeterred,
knocked men deadpanned,
few safe from my stock true;
chromosomes blurred,
nor token stand
so few shall make, 'tis true.

I'm core warlord
of ten thousand
which multiplies by two
upon my word
whenever sand
ticks nanosecond through.

I am true Word
to a viral band
dividing yet anew;
where’er I stirred
in gut or gland,
grief spreads – to each his due.

Few could afford -
swift I expand -
to hesitate while blew
changed winds which bore
diseases and
continue case review.

Infection poured
woe flowed, errand
contagious hullabaloo,
touched sceptre, sword,
none could disband
pandemic's subtle screw.

Card-coded cord,
D.N.A. band,
bound by genetic glue;
a hidden horde,
on every hand
mutating molecu.

As victims soared
some out of hand
perceived the risk that grew,
dire threat explored, -
migration banned -
strategic overview.

My rule stays awed
by chain and strand,
primaeval soup and stew;
perverted curd
bad blood would brand, -
mix death-mask task flask brew.

In prayer implored
strong man, unmanned
with fear, and women too;
to dust restored
stark pale, dark tanned,
some die ere dawn dries dew.

So, silent scored
brave, coward, bland,
pauper, patrician too;
those loved, adored,
the poor, the grand, -
God to his bosom drew.

With one accord
swine fever fanned,
interring not a few;
alarm men heard
in every land
coeval with 'tishoo!

Most, overawed,
saw deaths expand,
from dumb to high I.Q.
mankind deplored
that out of hand
my epidemic grew.

From cats which purred,
to pig sties spanned,
I came from out the blue;
begun with bird,
mutated, grew,
zapped gamma-globulu.

World unprepared
for high demand
of vaccin tamiflu,
for all stay scared;
who can withstand
the queues where sickness slew?

To Man absurd,
to germ ‘tis grand,
bug bear, bare bitten knew,
victims concurred
life's drops like sand
to waste went with adieu!


WHO World Health Organization robi03_1899_robi03_0000 WXX_JNZ
(28 August 2009)