By Dan Blute

By DanBlute

CONTENTS 1 BEHIND THE MASK 2 3 Picture Worth a Thousand Words 4 5 Stir Crazy in Shenyang 6 China’s Streets 7 China Strong Corona’s Last Days 8 Back to School 9 Virus Lock China's Day of Remembrance

BEHIND THE MASK 15 February 2020 The thing I miss most is the friendly smile For China’s warmth, I’d go the extra mile Kindness to strangers, hidden by a mask Fighting of this virus, such a daunting task Tonight I took a walk, a cold and desolate street Not the kind of chill that hinders two feet I looked to the air, then stared at the ground No matter how I spun, was the only one around A ghost town so quiet and eerie at night I stretch and I stretch but don’t encounter a sight Akin to the masks, people at home they do hide But I can’t be the only one thinking outside 30 minutes gone though I still walk alone Crystal still water without a skimmed stone Calm before the storm, the saying comes to mind But returning to the norm I know we’ll soon find During this crisis, we may have held a gloved hand But united together, we continued our stand Undeterred and unbeaten, we’ll go to great length The beauty of China provides us our strength By Dan Blute

Picture Worth a Thousand Words Empty halls cloister silent walls A playground full of untouched snow No bounced balls or crayon scrawls Oh, how will the children grow Classrooms to teach, now out of reach But will the children still learn Despite this breach can instructors beseech Hands raised to take their turn OCIS will unite and make things right Students will have their say Keep up the fight ‘til we see the light Empty swing sets will soon be at play By Dan Blute

Stir Crazy in Shenyang Tied to my apartment with invisible tether Look out my window to notice the weather Four walls scene, the same two eyes Missing the beauty of evening skies Sun still comes up, but I don’t know when And as it sets, on my couch I’ll be then To look on the bright side I sit and I write But now it takes hours for day to find night Warmth of my words, starting to fade Unwelcomed waters, beginning to wade Always had spirit that no one could break Wonder now how much more I can take By Dan Blute

China’s Streets China’s streets were lonely Birds of a feather only While many stayed inside The virus continued its stride But people of China are strong Together we’ll right this wrong “We” despite being from foreign land I love this culture, I’m ready to stand The hearts of China, so good to me Beauty of the people so easy to see Health and safety will turn around Feet walk again firm on the ground This virus is not going to win We’ll fight it through thick and thin The people of China are strong Together we’ll right this wrong By Dan Blute

China Strong When feeling inspired, I write a poem These words come easy, away from home Hope and fear behind this tome When not in the States, this land I roam A more beautiful people, I’ve never met But those hearts of gold now know fret City streets empty but for regret The once unknown is now a threat Culture of China, ancient and strong This virus will lose before too long Doomsday soothsayers proven wrong Current battle becomes fabled song Generations unite, standing proud Corona defeated, they’ll sing aloud Once again will be a welcomed crowd To the beauty of China, disease has bowed By Dan Blute

Corona’s Last Days Human nature, I like your chance Seasons of China are starting to dance Days are coming, foreshadow Spring We all know what that tends to bring Expanding prospects, and brand-new life Romantic strolls, kids without strife Budding flowers, grass becomes green No more time for this virus scene People emerge and look to the sky Cooped up spirits once again fly Hearts and drums continue their beat Warming temps do again fill the street By Dan Blute

Back to School At last the end is coming near Soon to see the ones held dear Camaraderie overcoming fear Beyond the virus we have stood clear The not knowing was such a void The minded feeble grew annoyed A few spirits have been destroyed Heart strings pulled like being toyed Hopes at times were more than miffed Through inventory emotions made to sift Minds wandered as forced to drift An ongoing battle in nature’s rift Looks as though the finale’s in sight Though not always good, this end is right China has survived this epic plight United the people have won the fight By Dan Blute

Virus Lock I teach in China where things got better To the rest of the world I pen this letter The people of China are strong We need their strength to go long Life goes on and always will Despite the pond sometimes still Artists sing “We are the world” Sentiment until corona unfurled Some point the finger as if to blame When virus attacks, we all are the same Beloved U.S. locked down in trouble The terrible toll in Italy’s double England has the shine of their crown The little prince though still wears a frown Fiancé in Thailand waits for her ring On our first date in her ear I did sing Teacher close friends confined to Ukraine Their classroom-less kids now feel the pain Another friend biding his time in Turkey That teacher’s study hall feeling as murky In Philippines the school’s songbird awaits Wondering when the airline will open its gates Covid-19 knows no racial divide No land in sight for people to hide If united we fight, consider the power This could be the earth’s finest hour By Dan Blute

China's Day of Remembrance April 4th A Day of Remembrance in China Dedicated to the medical staff on the front lines of the fight And to all who lost their lives, those in darkness and light Despite the fact that the virus is losing It didn’t leave as quick as our choosing In history there’s an important saying It comes with lives unfortunately paying “A bomb goes off, and heroes run toward it” Corona docs and nurses ran with medical kit The bravest abound in times of crisis So often though left to their own devices Not knowing the battle they were about to face Some medics gave their lives with unequaled grace Makes me think of a Chinese gentleman I met This man introduced himself as a Navy vet After noticing the American flag on my arm A hand was extended meant from his charm A hospital is where our meeting took place A look of worry no doubt on my face Long before the virus I was there without pluck Meeting this man no doubt changed my luck Think of him now, don’t know why he was there I’d like him to know how much I do care I hope his loved ones and he all survived Virus around, hope his immune system thrived Despite the positive lines we have crossed At 10 AM with the sirens, remember lives lost And afterward please don’t ever forget Think of some lives that you hadn’t yet met By Dan Blute