b88 (3.20-1.2020): so far, it's a party

so far (it’s a party) ^[1]  
by spike d. curve
 
so far, it’s just a party
no work, no church, no school
no nothing (in-between “the break” and breaking marshal rule)
 
no way to figure out just what will happen next: immune
so far (it’s just a party)
no one to trust: stay tuned
 ______________________________
 
·       as a single-guy, teacher-guy, beer-drinking guy, this has (so far) been a paid vacation.
   o   …but things can get topsy-turvy in a hurry.

·       no one is going to want to major in what i teach.

·       i (and my siblings-siblings) are one notification away from zero-income and government dependence… in a republican government, of all things.

·       if/when depression sets in… we need to be grateful for the fact that (at least), it was a party!

·       humanity, we had a good run.

😊
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.20-1.2020). so far, it’s a party. book 88: marching into madness. © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us.

b88 (3.18-1.2020): flattening the curve

flattening the curve ^[1]   
by spike d. curve
 
social distance, elbow-bumping (isn’t just a fad)
flattening the curve, impending isolation (sad)
 ______________________________
 
·        risk?
o   exposure (to the virus)
o   amount of exposure (dose of exposure)
o   age (increased risk with age [over 50])
o   immunocompromised (at any age)
o   men (more than women)
o   smokers (more susceptible to all lung viri)
o   cardiopulmonary disease
o   diabetes

·        what to do?
o   social distancing
o   hand-washing and masks
o   clean air/water/food/mind

·        shopping list:
o   sugar (for hummingbirds
o   salt (for cleaning mixture with white vinegar)
o   canned tuna
o   canned beans (variety)
o   trader joe’s water (if possible)
o   soil (for outdoor plants)
o   outdoor plants
o   frozen vegetables (make room in freezer)
o   pay electric bill, cancel planet fitness, pay florida toll, file taxes, notify students
 

_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.18-1.2020). flattening the curve. book 88: marching into madness. © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.17-2.2020): u.s.a. gone mad

u.s.a. gone mad ^[1]       
by m. adness
 
forget about march madness (our response is kind of sad)
world leader is the u.s.a. and u.s.a. (gone mad)
 ______________________________
 
·       as the u.s.a.-ians slowly begin to realize that the “we’re number 1” mantra and the “we are the best” theory simply is not true. 

·       as we re-cognize that we’ve been living in a house of cards; and as we re-cognize that faux news (wholeheartedly supported by the ‘right’ party) enabled a game-show-host who insulted each of them (and some of their wives, by name)… yet still they supported him, be-cause he could further their money-for-the-rich agenda…

·       40-45% of u.s.a.-ians still believe (with faith) that their elders should be trusted.
   o   maybe we are a short-lived humanovirus that nature intends to fight.
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.17-2.2020). u.s.a. gone mad. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.17-1.2020): who morns for adonais?

who mourns for adonais? ^[1]  
by thema s. ses
 
who mourns for adonais?
who cries (when bully falls)?
who cares (when thugs betray us)?
who sighs when curtain calls?
 ______________________________
 
·       who (on earth) will cry – when the u.s.a. implodes from its own experiment in big-money-driven capitalistic consumerism?

·       after our big businessmen have ravaged other countries, who (but the local, capitalist bedfellows who have everything to lose) will care?

·       no one cares when the bully falls.

·       in fact, most will be hoping and praying for the bully to get his just reward.
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.17-1.2020). who mourns for adonais? book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.16-1.2020): governments care about $$$

 governments care ^[1]      
by g. overnment

alternate title: governments care (about government)

 
governments care (about money)
govs (don’t give a damn)...
about your health or welfare or your uptown city jam
 
lawmakers are one (self-serving) gewy pot of stew
governments care (about $$$$$)
govs don’t care (about you)
 ______________________________
 
·        it’s about time that humans get this.

·        government = power = control = $$$$$$

·        if you believe that you are represented, well, go back to sticking your head in the sand… with the rest of your reprehensible representatives.
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.16-1.2020). governments care (about $$$). book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us.

b88 (3.15-4.2020): social distancing

social distancing ^[1]     
by al martino & anti social
 
we can just avoid each other (separation sings!)
we can just avoid (let’s call it social distancing)
 ______________________________
 
·       social distancing: the new (me, avoiding you) way of life.

·       humans… playing into the easiest of games, allowing those in power to separate and divide.

·       it’s agreed-upon suicide.
 
…and all of you nutcases – asking others to ‘pray’ so that ‘god’ might intervene…
 
1.     dude, ‘he’ hasn’t intervened on global warming, global hunger, infant death, pollution, dirty politics, or the ice capades.

2.     dude simply doesn’t care!

3.     prayer is for the pray-er.  you do it for your-self.  things work out the same way, whether you pray or not.  you are simply kidding yourself, which is your right (of course), unless you train innocent children to believe that bullsh--.

4.     it doesn’t matter if you believe in santa claus or not…

5.     …but to subject a young person (whose home and food and clothes and life that you completely control) to your lies…

a.     then you are simply being an ignorant a--hole.

b.     yes.  it is akin to child abuse.
_________________________
[1] martino, al. (3.15-4.2020). social distancing. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.15-3.2020): prayer... to cure a virus??

prayer (to cure a virus)? ^[1]      
by al martino & ima gonna pray
 
prayer (to cure a virus)?
doesn’t it seem odd
that prayer works (when it works) but when it doesn’t (honor god)
that pray-ers are for the culted faithful (superstitious beings)
 
prayer (to cure a virus)?
silly, so it seems
 ______________________________
 
·       be-cause we all know that prayer doesn’t do a thing.

·       god… (if you happen to be a faith-based believer) doesn’t give a sh-- …about your prayers.  

huh?

·       god decides anyway… based upon his (all) knowingness… and his knowing best already.  why do you not trust that?  if you really, really believed that god knew what was best for you, and that he would carry-out his perfect plan… why pray and beg?

·       god doesn’t need you (on your knees, no less) making-believe that you actually do care about someone else…  more than you care about yourself.

·       god already knows that you are self-serving, and you’d just like to feel better.

_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.15-3.2020). prayer (to cure a virus). book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.15-2.2020): who the f--- are you (to talk about god)?

who the f--- are you to talk about god? ^[1] 
by whothaf u. c. kareyou & al martino
 
who the f--- are you -- to talk and squawk about god?
 
you have never seen him (so it seems a little bit odd)
you have never known him (so it seems a little bit lame)
 
you sit and talk about god (it’s a little a bit insane)
 ______________________________
 
·       be-cause we all know that you are full of sh--.

·       you are just a blind-believer (maybe it’s time to twit).

·       you have no idea that we have had enough of it…
 
…your thoughts, ideas and beliefs about god.

_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.15-2.2020). who the f--- are you (to talk about god)? book 88: marching into madness. © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.15-1.2020): do it with a mask on

do it with a mask on ^[1] 
by n. ewcu stoms
 
do it with a mask on
riding on a plane
sitting in a restaurant, or taking-in a game
checking fake id’s (or maybe any kind of task)
kissing your new lover
do it with a mask
 ______________________________
 
·        the new normal: making love (with a mask on).

·        maybe we should have been doing it all along. 😊
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.15-1.2020). do it with a mask on. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.14-5.2020): new customs

new customs ^[1]
by anna miss
 
welcome to new customs
tell us where you’ve been
tell us why you’ve been there
tell us who (your friends)
tell us where you’re going
tell us how you feel
welcome to new customs (this is just part of the deal)
 ______________________________
 
·        maybe they always asked us for this kind of information. 

·        now, however, they do it with a mask on.
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.14-5.2020). new customs. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.14-4.2020): reactive isolation

reactive isolation ^[1]       
by anna miss
 
reactive isolation
nothing in the store
nothing on the tube but news, no toilet paper wars
nothing going-on and nobody on the street
reactive isolation
the taste is bittersweet
 ______________________________
 
·        as we finally get to experience a bit of peace and quiet, it’s for all of the wrong reasons.
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.14-4.2020). reactive isolation. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.14-1.2020): spineless politician

spineless politician ^[1]    
by anna citizen
 
spineless politician
doesn’t represent
won’t stand up (for justice)
your money (he spent)
 
he writes the law (self-serving) with his spineless, poli-friends
spineless politician
game over,
the end
 

alternate ending (for the faux news faithful out there):

spineless politician

in you we trust,

amen

 ______________________________
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.14-1.2020). spineless politician. book 88: marching into madness. © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-12.2020): let's spend some time (alone)

let’s spend some time (alone) ^[1]         
by anna loner
 
let’s spend some time alone
as if we had the choice
as if we had the power
as if we have a voice
 
as if we were together
let’s facetime on the phone
as if we had a tendency
let’s spend some time alone
 ______________________________
 
·       there’s nothing like a global catastrophe to bring people together.

_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-12.2020). let’s spend some time alone. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-11.2020): no marching into madness

no marching into madness ^[1]
by m. arch & m. addness
 
no marching into madness
no scent of sweet sixteen
no great debate, no elite eight, no viral fate (unseen)
no final four (revolving door), no champion, no sadness
no cheering & no bracket-sharing:
 
no marching into madness
______________________________
 
·       there appears, however, to be a lot of marching into the emergency room.
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-11.2020). no marching into madness. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-10.2020): "open-up and swallow"

we play follow the leader ^[1]       
by l. eaders & f. ollowers
 

alternative title: "open-up and swallow"

we play follow the leader
with head (beneath the sand)
we choose to muse the fauxy news (pretend to understand)
 
as global markets crumble, we pray (“open-up and swallow”)
have faith in the anointed one:
here comes the leader, follow
 
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-10.2020). we play follow the leader. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-9.2020): the dow is the tao

the dow is the tao ^[1]   
by v. iruses
 
the dow is the tao
the almighty dollar
in the here & now
politicians holler
 
everybody’s got a take when internet is king
the tao is the dow
goodbye everything
 
 
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-9.2020). the dow is the tao. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-8a.2020): when the tao is the dow

when the tao is the dow ^[1]     
by v. irus
 
ride the roller coaster
ego takes a bow
when comedy is tragedy
when the tao is the dow

(it seems the time is Now) 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-8a.2020). when the tao is the dow. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-8b.2020): viral ego games

viral ego games ^[1]       
by v. iral
 
viral ego-maniac says “no!” (i can’t explain)
as viral ego-maniac plays viral ego games
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-8b.2020). viral ego games. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-7.2020): when shame & blame goes viral

when shame & blame goes viral ^[1]    
by s. hame & b. lame
 
when shame & blame goes viral
when global fabrication
when power moves prove all-too-shrewd for this-here in-car-nation
 
when huge galactic egos battle (feel the downward spiral)
when so-called leaders play their games
when shame & blame goes viral
 
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-7.2020). when shame & blame goes viral. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-6.2020): when quarantine meets lockdown

when quarantine meets lockdown ^[1]
by j. quarantine & ima lockdown
 
when quarantine meets lockdown
when governments collide
when shame meets blame (in power games), the lord he will provide
when poetry meets playwright in one final, tragic scene
 
the lord, he will provide/divide
when lockdown/quarantine
______________________________
 
·       their date was soooooo serene.
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-6.2020). when quarantine meets lockdown. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-5.2020): johnny quarantine

my name is johnny quarantine ^[1]       
by ima lock eddown & j. quaran tine
 
my name is johnny quarantine
i’m locked down in my home
please do not come and visit, just leave well-enough alone
please do not bring me food (or news)
please do not cause a scene
please leave me with my blues, my name is johnny quarantine
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-5.2020). my name is johnny quarantine. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us.

b88 (3.13-4.2020): sunrise/yoga cancelled

sunrise/yoga cancelled ^[1]      

by candice c. ellation
 
sunrise/yoga cancelled
lockdown in the street
cancel grocery (shopping)
nothing there to eat
______________________________
 
·       …because cancelling wellness activities (like yoga and the beach) is the (political) answer to improve health.

why not just cancel sunrises?
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-4.2020). sunrise/yoga cancelled. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-3.2020): cancel inter-action

cancel inter-action ^[1] 
by can c. ellations
 
cancel inter-action
fight, corona, fight!
touch? corona (extra!)
sip corona (light)
 
breathe corona (premium) and
stoke corona (fear)
fight, corona, fight (this is a bit too much to beer)
______________________________
 
·       let’s cancel all interactions… and make every hour sad.

·       cancel happy hour?  …nah… not today.
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-3.2020). cancel inter-action. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-2.2020): let's just cancel christmas

let’s just cancel christmas ^[1]       
by can c. ellations
 
let’s just cancel christmas
cancel the debates
cancel all elections (let’s just leave it up to faith)
 
cancel school (let marshals rule) and cancel gatherings
let’s just watch the news (sit back), and
cancel everything
______________________________
 
·        cancel thoetry?  …nah… not today.
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-2.2020). let’s just cancel christmas. book 88: marching into madness.  © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b88 (3.13-1.2020): "let's come together"

the only game in town ^[1]        
by m. arch & m. addness

alternative title: "let's come together" 

i watched the news today (it was the only game in town)
as news reporters (faint/persuade) the facts they toss around
they say “lets come together” while the clips they show (divide)
i watched the news today (a blend of captivating lies)
______________________________
 
·       news channels (particularly fox and msnbc) have lost the ability to report news.  did entertainment networks ever have the ability?

·       in any event, two ‘channels’ describe the same ‘news’ – but paint pictures of two diametrically-opposed worlds.

·       global, consumerized systems fail to avert crises.

·       now, we get to watch & listen to disaster (from the locked-down confines of our own, quarantined homes).

·       let’s "spend some time" (alone).
 
_________________________
[1] martino, j. (3.13-1.2020). the only game in town. book 88: marching into madness. © 2020 by wellnesseducation.us.