Question begets answer. But in the midst of a pandemic, it may be an exception. Not an exception to the rule but exception to reality. Removed from reality, I am an aberration. I depart from the usual, normal, typical, and on to obscurity, absurdity, and I dwell headlong as a menace to society. I am not an explorer but I have circumnavigated the world freely, swiftly. I am not a conquistador but I conquered many — in millions across continents and seas. I am not a muay Thai boxer but I forced many to hopeless submission. Home invasion is my craft. Creating havoc to families is my specialty. For I am that which lurks beneath fears of health and safety.
Every day I chart results, of those infected, of those hospitalized, of those who passed away. I defy explaining because I am devoid of substance, clarity, and purpose. In my being there is nothing worth telling. I have many colors but none of it depicts youth, life, and happiness. I exist but am despised by all in strongest terms. I am invisible but I manifest largely in many ways, that no one wants to be a part of. I am in symptoms that foretell sickness. I am in coughs and sneezes that drive away people. I am not ill but I am in hospitals. I may be in a beautiful being but there’s nothing beautiful about me. None. For my existence is a scourge of life.
Everyone wants me dead and buried, not in a celebrated memorial but in memory. And most especially not when I am inside a person. Let me rather dwell alone on objects, on surfaces, on doorknobs, on pushbuttons…on anything that people touch. Hindered by face mask and shielded away, I better be. With a splash of alcohol I better not thrive. With a drop of hand sanitizer, I should cease to exist. I better be gone, wiped out, eradicated with no goodbyes and farewells. No legacy to leave behind. No trails of hope that someday I might be back in worse form than I have ever been.
Who am I? This is me. Unseen but my presence is larger than life. I am beyond measure though expressed in minuscule. Frame me, hang me on the wall, admire me for in this instance I am just a replica, a product of one’s creative imagination, given life in canvass so I can represent the odious realism. Let this picture be your constant reminder. That safety and health are one life’s fender.
Note: The painting shown above as well as the other two below are owned by Fray Noel aka Leon Paulo Zaragoza. He painted this creation to depict the havoc that coronavirus has inflicted on humanity. The 3 paintings featured are part of his creation he called “Quarantine Series”. Leon is a world-class photographer, a painter, a gourmet chef, and a restaurateur.
