The seas are churning
Smoke and fire everywhere
the pandemic has no end in sight
a little girl asks her Daddy –
“Is this how the dinosaurs died?”
I want to hug her but can’t –
social distancing.
Hordes of mosquitoes descend
on cattle, horses and dogs
killing with relentless stings
does anyone have that one
on their apocalypse bingo card
upper right corner away from
fire hurricane and disease.
Hundreds of thousands of birds
drop dead out of New Mexico sky
no one has that covered
except the people who have
seen it rain frogs and snakes
or walked thru a forest of knives
or swum thru boiling seas.
Eastern Equine encephalitis
plagues seven Michigan counties
they are spraying the streets
“remain inside after dusk”
the emergency alert blares
no square for this one either.
My brain spins 360 degrees
I smile and hum while it knocks
against my skull
I breathe deep and close my eyes
when I open them
they become windows
I see the trees nodding
they have seen this all before
they tell me
They believe in patience and
taking root and standing tall.
An old beech in the forest grows healthy
It refuses to succumb
to beech bark disease
I put my arms around it
as far as I can reach
It gives me what I need
I cover the middle square labeled survival
and dance
“Bingo, Bingo, Bingo” I sing.