You escaped because you left the house
Stayed home
Refused to go to work
Went to work, but kept apart
Propped open the window
Slammed the door
Didn’t take the subway
Now when you walk
You startle at coughs
As others turn right
You rush left
Jump onto roadbeds
Look up at the sky and curse
Contagions spark battles
Fought mutation by mutation
Wars between species infecting
Longer wars within them
Contaminating everything
Your friend got sniffles
Your sister the flu
Your brother a coffin
Who wins? You did
You’ve just enough fury to
Pick up this pen