UNCOVID–a 55-word story

This poem by Wald is composed of 55 words describing his experience as a spouse caregiver to a patient with brain cancer. The adjectives were similar to those Wald heard being used to describe the experience of COVID. In a brief afterward, he explains his intention for the poem: “I hope that this story might help readers pause, reflect, remember, and respond to suffering, both covid and ‘uncovid,’ with compassion
for others and for oneself.”

This short poem and the author’s reflection could be useful prompts for a discussion of how COVID experiences are similar to or different from other more “ordinary” or familiar experiences. There is also room here to discuss the ambiguity in poetry and the way it can allow both for multiple individual interpretations and empathy/common ground.

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