The Good Plague (Poetry)

Waves of happiness have swept the country
laughter’s broken through and swamped the town
a giddiness now gathers its momentum
old prudish towers sway and topple down

A joyfulness released from some dark prison
has spread sweet freedom’s virus like a plague
so all are granted access to the vision
the fever breaks once everyone is saved

Some folk had long-fortold a flood was coming
such prophecy determined as divine
this pestilence a joy well-past defining
with every smiling face a certain sign

Emergency! The government’s in panic
the population’s victim to disease
contentment’s on the rise — it’s really shocking
how quickly hope has raised them from their knees

Delirium! The atmosphere’s ecstatic
God help us have the strength so we endure
this rapture’s proven purely symptomatic
Oh let’s pray they never formulate a cure!