Silent Epidemic Poem by Chen-ou Liu

A Tanka Prose


"312 people died of suspected opioid overdoses last month, more than the total number of people in the province who have lost their lives to the coronavirus." The reporters turn to each other, not a word uttered. A silence envelops the conference room for a while.

"I cannot express how shocking this news has been to hear, " says the province's top doctor at the briefing, fighting to hold back her tears."The overdose crisis is rooted in pain. Stigma, shame and fear or distrust of authorities have prevented drug users from seeking help. Most of them died in the shadow of a back alley or behind the dumpster."

The doctor's concluding remark unsettles in the darkest corners of my mind. I put the TV on mute and grow restless.

a baby
in the crook of her arm …
she writes we miss you
inside a purple heart
on the memorial walk