Moments in the Pandemic

James Dwyer*

I taught at CBEC in 2012 and 2014.  Each time, I went home with many fond memories.  What I remember most is the students’ spirit.  Although many of them were working in difficult situations, they had a deep determination to make things better.  The coronavirus pandemic demands that spirit.  So, in the midst of the pandemic, I kept up my small spiritual practice.  Every day I write one haiku.  I don’t try to imitate classical Japanese poems, but I do use this writing exercise to cultivate a Zen spirit.  Here are a few haiku, grouped under roles that I have:

Human being

Just before the peach tree blooms an inch of snow
I cut my own hair – lockdown style
We try to enjoy sharing a meal – on Skype
Relatively well: a regular paycheck enough calories
Civic duty: ear-loop mask with fogged up glasses

Citizen in a flawed society

Lockdown divide: those with and without enough food
Day ten of the lockdown birds happier
Wealthy couple flees to their second home – with the virus
Her place of birth: hospital ship in the port of Los Angeles
Same logic: nursing homes refugee camps

Ethics teacher and consultant

Online seminar no shy students stay after
Immigrant parents worried about their daughter – an EM doctor
The nurse’s personal protective gown – a garbage bag
No surprise: ventilators don’t fix inequalities
Cause of death: coronavirus due to bad politics

Potential patient

How does this end? You mean, if we make it?
A phone call to reminisce – say goodbye
Changing quickly – snow covers mowed grass
Still dark birds chirping people dying

* James F. Dwyer, Professor, Center for Bioethics and Humanities, New York, USA, Visiting Faculty, CBEC