Sunday, March 8, 2020

Notre Dame de Purell - poem in the virus-time

Lawrence Hall
mhall46184@aol.com
poeticdrivel.blogspot.com

Notre Dame de Purell

A furore virus coronam libera nos, Domine

The holy water fonts have been withdrawn
And in their places bottles of Purell
Blessing ourselves with scented alcohol
To remind us of baptismal promises

For now we must not shake each other’s hands
Don’t kiss, don’t touch (don’t even breathe too much)
Or receive Our Lord from the blessed Cup
Nor yet again receive Him on the tongue

But still, not even a bishop can stop:

The pinchings exchanged by sisters and brothers
Followed by futile shushings from their mothers!

2 comments:

Verlie Burroughs said...

Scary times, we are doomed!

Lawrence Hall, HSG said...

How many school busses / buses do you see? :)

So glad you were able to access the site / sight / cite!

Giovannini Guareschi (his wonderful THE LITTLE WORLD OF DON CAMILLO is long overdue for rediscovery) said in his prison camp remembrance, "Even if they kill me I refuse to die." That's the stuff!