“As flies to wanton boys are we to th’ gods, They kill us for their sport.” Shakespeare – from King Lear, Act 4 Scene 1 For all Covid-19 fighters in healthcare and especially those who work in the lab, People often unseen and unheard from.
Tribute
The enemy, lethal, unforgiving and merciless,
Savaging a ravaged planet,
Soldiers, in flimsy fatigues of blue and green,
Charging fearlessly like warriors of yore.
Ministering silently, valiantly, among the sick,
Shielded with armour of little more than apron, glove, and mask,
Facing not planes, bullets, bombs; take your pick,
To engage in mortal combat is their noble task.
Haunted looks, hooded eyes, the creased visage,
Exhausted beyond measure, yet never surrendering,
Tears freely flowing, sometimes for fallen comrades,
Stoic looks, care beyond the ken dispensing.
She emptying the bins, he mopping the floor,
Those, whose toil we take for granted,
The pharmacist, the medtech, the guard at the door.
Those, whose praises have seldom been chanted.
And within the forest, the oft forgotten kin,
But now remembered, indeed, earnestly sought,
Miners of gold dust, the results desperately needed to win,
Responding to plaintive cries of Test! Test! Test! is their lot.
I see kindness in all corners,
Compassion given without rest,
“Unsung heroes” they’ve been called,
I’ve seen humankind at its very best.
Author Contributions
All authors confirmed they have contributed to the intellectual content of this paper and have met the following 4 requirements: (a) significant contributions to the conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; (b) drafting or revising the article for intellectual content; (c) final approval of the published article; and (d) agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the article thus ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the article are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Authors' Disclosures or Potential Conflicts of Interest
The author has not declared any potential conflicts of interest.