THE UNCOMMON COLD




THE UNCOMMON COLD


The common cold used to wield the full arsenal
Of the sinus; the throat and nose’s collusion,
With the gathering sneeze, as attack.

Infiltrated by flu, each soldier fell before battle,
Declaring war within peacetime, as each
Sense of self bore the flack.

Now that selfsame cold masks deceit,
As it clearly contains the feared symptoms:
The cough, and the soreness in both the throat

And the eye. I check each breath as its pressed,
Examining valves for the virus, and attempting
To forge health’s illusion for the peace and belief

Of the mind.
And yet still, conspiracy swells:

A troubled plot for the glottis. Has the air
Been reflavoured, with all of its former scent

Now disowned?
Rather like those fearsome
Ovens of old, the days are all haunted chambers,
With each of us as the herded, jackbooted back

To our homes.
With all common sense ghettoised,
Each new delusion turns fascist.  But there will be
A decadence somewhere, a swilling of germs,

A fat kiss; someone unknown to us, in the know
Who is drawing around separation, coughing at will,
Sneezing, farting as they lustily subvert this.

While the rest of us, meek and mild,
But still wild in spirit, remain inside, watchful,
Ready for the expected return of past bliss.

But what if that bliss doesn’t come?
What then are the ways to feel better?

Of the Quarantine, many have said
They enjoy it, but we should be wary still
As we work, for there is always a hood,

A rug to pull, a loose floorboard,
Always a fall we are close to and always
An unexpected stain on the shirt. Or the blouse,

Nightie, smock, shroud: such stains spell us.
The common cold’s an old story. But it is being
Rewritten. This uncommon one sounds through hurt.



David Erdos April 10th 2020









For more poems from David Erdos visit The Corona Diaries collection 



David Erdos is an actor, writer, director with over 300 professional credits. He is a published poet, playwright, essayist and illustrator. He has lectured on all disciplines in theatre and film for leading performing arts colleges, schools and universities around the world. His books include EASY VERSES FOR DIFFICULT TIMES, THE SCAR ON THE CLOUD, OIL ON SILVER, NEWS FROM MARS, CHANGING PLACES WITH LIGHT (penniless press) and BYZANTIUM with the photographer Max Reeves. He is a contributing editor for The International Times and maker of documentaries all over the world. David’s work has been acclaimed by many leading figures including Harold Pinter, Heathcote Williams, Alan Moore, Andrew Kotting, Chris Petit and Iain Sinclair in whose recent book THE LAST LONDON, David features. He can be reached at David.erdos@sky.com.

David Erdos





©    David Erdos has asserted his moral rights as author of his work and has full copyright.







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