A poem to cheer us through the current global crisis, sent to us with permission from our Expert Assessor, Professor Susan Friedman. The poem was written by Alicia Ostriker, noted American poet feminist critic and professor emerita, Rutgers University. It echoes Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Major General's Song' from 'The Pirates of Penzance', March 2020:
I am the very model of effective social distancing!
I listen to the experts on the topic of resistance-ing; I know that brunch and yoga class aren’t nearly as imperative As doing what I can to change the nation’s viral narrative. I’m very well acquainted, too, with living solitarily
And confident that everyone can do it temporarily:
Go take a walk, or ride a bike, or dig into an unread book; Avoid the bars and restaurants and carry out, or learn to cook.
There’s lots of stuff to watch online while keeping safe from sinus ills
In this case, it’s far better to enjoy your Netflix MINUS chills)! Adopt a pet, compose a ballad, write some earnest doggerel, And help demolish Trump before our next event inaugural. Pandemics are alarming, but they aren’t insurmountable
If everybody pitches in to hold ourselves accountable. In short, please do your part to practice prudent co-existence-ing, And be the very model of effective social distancing!