Poem by Dr. Joseph DeJames

COVID Creativity is a Source arts feature highlighting the work of our creative readers as they respond to a time of global pandemic. All visual artists and creative writers are encouraged to share with us new works that have been created as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Poetry and creative prose submissions are limited to 1,500 words and should include a brief bio of the writer.

Visual art submissions should include at least one high-quality image or video and a very brief bio along with an artist’s statement that speaks to the inspiration of the work. The statement should include the title if there is one, the medium used and what the work means to you.

Please send submissions and questions to visourceart@gmail.com.

Re-Inauguration

Dr. Joseph DeJames

It seems like despite what we knew, the Red and the Blue
Are not the colors we thought occupied, with others, the crayon box.
Now they appear to be upon our House a pox, where divided we fall.
No all for one and one for all.

Colors no longer adorn, but denote to what destiny we are born as well as knowing who to scorn.
Yet a prism can show how white light contains all shades. And black dye also contains all colors, with which time will tend to fade.

For a simple difference in hue, now sets apart the me from you
So no longer does one plus one equal two, but actually zero.
We are now our own Bards, lauding who we see as real-time heroes,
And we believe that those against us, will be relegated to historical bins of dust.

Now colors describe minds who tear asunder the ties that bind,
Trying to push a nation beyond possible reconciliation.
A frenzy fueled by those not schooled in discerning the truth but by the uncouth urging where what is plainly seen needs purging.

We cling to the hope that it prevail, when it seemed to no avail when, a fortnight ago, a treasonous mob, believing they were robbed, felt that their country they would retake not realizing the mistake of not realizing this country is not owned by hats of Red…where five were left dead.

So let’s look to hope’s audacity to dispel purposeful mendacity and
Reimagine the just ways how the moral arc bends, where ends do not justify the means leading to incited scenes of fiends…but instead to where colors are Nature’s gifts and not the cause of rifts.

 

Dr. Joseph DeJames is a physician on St. John