The New Armed Forces: A Poem

While humanity slept

There was a biological rage

A war not engaged with conventional weaponry

And our combatants will not be stock of yesterday’s military.

The new Armed Forces

Formation-ready on the frontline of this battle

Abandoning their kith and kin

To keep humanity from peril

So we can see tomorrow

Before you say "it's their job!"

While we enjoy the company of loved ones

Another family is making a difficult decision

Isolating their father and doctor of the house to the apartment garage for a season

As he continues to treat Covid-19 patient

While the wife is left alone

Tending to their 3 weeks old baby

And 2 whining and hungry kids

Maybe "Sacrifice" will be a better word

To describe their life-and-death fit

We can make their plight easier

By keeping apart a few feet

Obey simple hygiene routines

And special care of our aged ones

The new Armed Forces

Without guns and weapons of mass destruction

Yet their harmless arms is saving the world.

If there be any lesson

Our world will never remain the same again

The world has seen a lot

But none as the fall-outs of this scourge

A Sunday when it was safer not to go to church

An evening when it's more caring not to touch

Even when a fellow is cold

It used to be divided we fall

United we stand

But there is a new narrative in town

Together we die

Divided we survive

And Separated in Solidarity we win the war

Paradigms are shifting.

Truth no longer Truth?

Maybe not

Maybe context has changed

And changed forever

The new Armed Forces

While they hold forth life from extinction

In the midst of the pandemic

Yet we have the shortest memory of them

And their efforts we overlook

But their sacrifice we can't deny

Keeping humanity from extermination

In our isolation

We look up to them for a cure

For answers to this global question

Bringing great nations to their knees

And making us realize the fragility and vulnerability of humanity

In this trying times

Talks will be delivered

Policies will be made

Orders will be given

From our Fortified fortresses

And plans executed

But many lives will be saved

By healthcare givers

Doctors are the new Armed Forces 😢

With Nurses, Lab Scientist, Medical personnel et al on the frontlines of this Mortal combat

We owe them a duty

To remember them

Appreciate their efforts

And hold them high

In our supplications

They are in the trenches of hospitals

Shielding us from premature Armageddon

While we wait for the good news

From the labour room of research

To uncover Covid-19's Achilles heel

And triumph from ER the world over

We pray these knights in shining armor conquer

As they put on their kits to care

Because victory belongs to God

- Ernest Ademola Ehigie

@iamcontentking