The Pandemic Project Vol. 2 by SUNY Erie

The Pandemic Project

Volume II SUNY Erie Fall 2020/Spring 2021

The Pandemic Project evolved in Spring 2020 when the annual Spring Arts Festival was cancelled due to COVID-19. Knowing that our students would not be able to recite their work live on stage, we wanted to create a space to commemorate their creative efforts. It was our hope to share their voices and talent by recording their challenges and the ways in which they came to terms with the pandemic in this collection. Volume 2 marks a continuation of The Pandemic Project encompassing two semesters of creative work: Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The pieces move us from the dark days of isolation, “I resent the trees/for the trees know no quarantine” writes one student, to tracing changes we witnessed throughout society as we began to see hope through vaccines. “It has been a tough year, but the rain/ is almost done and the adventures in the world/ will begin again,” another writes. Special thanks to Humanities professor Michelle Michael-Lippens for suggesting we find a virtual venue for this project. We would also like to thank Advanced Studies teachers John Dunne at Cardinal O’Hara High School and Kevin Edward at Alden Senior High School for encouraging their students to submit work. We are grateful to SUNY Erie professors Mary Ertel, Brenda Lacey, and Michael Rio for inspiring their students to submit to this volume and have their voices heard alongside ours. Thank you to librarian Grace Trimper for her interest in The Pandemic Project and ensuring it lives on by preserving both volumes in the SUNY Erie Library Archives.

Edited by Professor Jennifer Campbell Associate Professor Lisa Wiley Moslow

TABLE OF CONTENTS Abdallah, Jacob, Letter to the Editor: Eradicate the Penny!................................................................51 Alkhazraji, Huda, Corona Snail……………………………………………………………………………………..42 Andrzejewski, Kayleigh, Alone……………………………………………………………………………………..46 Baez, Victor, The Window…………………………………………………………………………………………….54 Bindig, Ashley, Black-Hole Binary…………………………………………………………………………………83 Breckenridge, CO 2020………………………………………………………………………….71 Brown, Rami, communication = false……………………………………………………………………………74 Butler, Rebecca, I Wish in the Nursing Home of Your Heart…………………………………………….55 Caccamise, Isabella, Everlasting Imprisonment……………………………………………………………...59 Campbell, Jennifer, About the Two Felled Adirondack Chairs Frozen on the Patio…………….23 Carlson, Saige, When Will It End…………………………………………………………………………………...50 Castro, Diosmaries, Locked in……………………………………………………………………………………….41 Cochrain, Pierce, Mask…………………………………………………………………………………………………33 What Is Essential?..............................................................................................................89 Coghlan, Kristen, An Unforgettable Birthday………………………………………………………………….65 Cordone, Roberto, Freedom………………………………………………………………………………………….56 Czaja, Jordan, Object of the Year……………………………………………………………………………………32 Davis, Dondrae, A Face to Recognize……………………………………………………………………………..81 Dawes, Louis, Bored, with Everything to Do…………………………………………………………………...87 Deluca, Louis, Covid the Devil………………………………………………………………………………………..67 Dewolfe, Ian, This Is Just to Say……………………………………………………………………………………..31 Erick, Brian, The New Normal……………………………………………………………………………………….60 Falbo, Amber, I Am Over This………………………………………………………………………………………..24 Fath, Alex, Letter to the Editor: Staying Safe in Grocery Stores…………………………………………75 Ferguson, Jeremy, Hope Ascending………………………………………………………………………………..64 Flores, Travis, The Great Pandemic……………………………………………………………………………….43 Galasso, Joseph, A Struggling Mother…………………………………………………………………………….93 Getsler, Hailey, Through Hardships There Is Light…………………………………………………………..61 Green, Keri, The Presence of Time………………………………………………………………………………….27 Greco, Michael, March 13th 2020.……………………………………………………………………………………6 Greer, Jaquetta, Frontline Hero………………………………………………………………………………………72 Grisanti, Joey, Pizza to Your Door in a Flash……………………………………………………………………91 Harrington, Olivia, The Year That Changed Life………………………………………………………………57 Hendzlik, Corey, Breathe……………………………………………………………………………………………..104 Hens, Liberty, Groundhog Day……………………………………………………………………………………….30 Inluxay, Lana, Letter to the Editor: The New Normal……………………………………………………….77 Jack, Meaghan, The Clorox Spray……………………………………………………………………………………36 In the Pharmacy of Your Heart………………………………………………………………..80 Johnson, Morressa, Frontline Worker…………………………………………………………………………..103 Johnson III, Morris, Nurse……………………………………………………………………………………………..73 Kerling, Caitlin, A Race for Place……………………………………………………………………………………85 Student………………………………………………………………………………………………...40 3

Khan, Fawziyah, Solicit…………………………………………………………………………………………………78 Kulniszewski, Willem, Frontline Heroes…………………………………………………………………………22 LaClair, Richard, If I Were a Kingfisher…………………………………………………………………………..53 Leith, Elaina, A Year of Covid-19……………………………………………………………………………………19 Lorrens, Kelsey, Lockdown……………………………………………………………………………………………9 Mahmood, Yar, Pandemic Curfew…………………………………………………………………………………..26 Marling, Matthew L., Beyond the Window………………………………………………………………………10 Martin, Cole, Mask………………………………………………………………………………………………………..38 Mattos, Victoria, When Will the End Come?................................................................................................25 McCarthy, Mia, The Spread……………………………………………………………………………………………70 McNamara, Grace, Safe…………………………………………………………………………………………………63 Michlinski, Ben, Uncertainty…………………………………………………………………………………………66 Moore, Rashanai, The Pandemic Way…………………………………………………………………………….11 Moslow, Lisa Wiley, The Year without an Office Party…………………………………………………….76 O’Brien, Erin, Essential Worker……………………………………………………………………………………101 O’Gara, Cour, Missing……………………………………………………………………………………………………62 Oh, Hyun-A, Letter to the Editor: Contact during the Pandemic……………………………………….92 Page, Dredon, Mask On…………………………………………………………………………………………………34 Panek, Allison, Crumbs…………………………………………………………………………………………………47 Pullara, Victoria, The Mask……………………………………………………………………………………………37 Radecki, Noah, Our Journey…………………………………………………………………………………………..15 Rahman, Afsana, Procession of Death…………………………………………………………………………….7 Randall, Lexi, I’ve Had Enough of Twenty-Twenty…………………………………………………………..58 Reardon, Alexander, Bullet in the Brain…………………………………………………………………………97 Riley, Mathea, Sturgeon Point……………………………………………………………………………………….52 Robertson, Matthew, Baseball during Quarantine………………………………………………………….49 Roof, Elizabeth, In a Blink of an Eye………………………………………………………………………………48 Scoccia, Gabriella, The Flight That Will Take Me There…………………………………………………...79 Toilet Paper……………………………………………………………………………………..35 Shaban, Bizhan, Somebody……………………………………………………………………………………………13 Siddique, Mohammad, Mask…………………………………………………………………………………………12 Solis-Sanchez, Gaetano, Torn Masquerade……………………………………………………………………..14 Sorrentino, Samantha, The Mask…………………………………………………………………………………...39 Sowinski, Tyler, New Hobbies………………………………………………………………………………………..68 Spentz, LaVita J., The Chair……………………………………………………………………………………………21 Stewart, Seth, The Curse of Free Time…………………………………………………………………………….69 Stockman, Kristin, 2020………………………………………………………………………………………………..18 Sultonova, Malika, Autumn……………………………………………………………………………………………8 Syroczynski, Jamie, Superior to Anger……………………………………………………………………………44 Wells, Caitlin, I Wish in the Gym of Your Heart……………………………………………………………..…94 Wilcox, John, Coughins………………………………………………………………………………………………….16 Spend Time with Loved Ones……………………………………………………………………...17 Wilson, Isaiah, Forgiveness……………………………………………………………………………………………99 Yuan, Jiangshan, Chickenpox Vaccine……………………………………………………………………………100 Young, Deborah, Quar.an.tine:………………………………………………………………………………………95 Zahm, Chloe, One Year Later…………………………………………………………………………………………86 4

These pages are dedicated to Richard F. Wiley (March 1943-May 2021) a longtime supporter of the Spring Arts Festival who lost his battle with cancer at the end of the Spring ’21 semester. He understood the power of the arts as a source of light and healing during dark times knowing that a creative outlet could boost all academic endeavors. He believed the pandemic slowed down hectic schedules providing families more moments to appreciate one another as parents and students worked from home.

March 13th 2020 Michael Greco March 13th 2020. A significant date in our history. A date that will not be forgotten. As we know, life since changed forever. March 13th 2020. Most did not know COVID until then. Now we wish we could forget it. Maybe the vaccine will help—or not. March 13th 2020. If I had only known that was my last day of high school forever. Never again will I walk the halls of my alma mater. Or have the chance to say goodbye to my friends. March 13th 2020. Innocence was lost. Millions of lives ended since. If only it were March 12th again.

Procession of Death Afsana Rahman A monster (Covid19) is out there, Looking for humans’ bodies to enter. People dying every single day The morgue is overflowing with bodies. Shutdown roads, Shutdown restaurants The days are getting harder, There is no hope for a better tomorrow. Dangerous to work and go out Warning signs, posters hanging everywhere Wear masks keep distancing yourself. Sweet home is prison now. One little symptom can Separate you from loved ones. No matter how much you Love your family, If you are a victim You must maintain the rules 14-days of self-Isolation. When things are worse Death would be guaranteed. Imagine, How hard to accept When you look death in the eyes and You are in isolation from everyone. For the last time You cannot hold your partner’s hands, You cannot hug your parents, kids. When time is up You will realize We were born alone and die alone.

Autumn Malika Sultonova Again, the autumn upon us Brown turn the falling leaves Capturing beauty and depression Drowning us in thoughts of past Everything is getting ready for winter Feathers of birds are changing Grass is ready to hide under snow How I am going to miss the warmth of the sun

Lockdown Kelsey Lorrens The world was in lockdown, Every person was watching the news. I feel like the idea of normal was knocked down. The world was in total shutdown, The world has a case of the blues. The world was in lockdown. The Government will not stand down. Everyone will just have to make do, I feel like the idea of normal was knocked down. Everyone was in a money drought. The positive was everyone’s heart grew. The world was in lockdown. Some people turned a blind eye it appeared too, Some people need to learn some news is true. I feel like the idea of normal was knocked down. Although I understand the fear too, This just means it’s not something to whiz through. The world was in lockdown, I feel like the idea of normal was knocked down.

Beyond the Window Matthew L. Marling Thoughts of happiness from our lives before we were forced to look out tightly locked doors. Our eyes now focused on loved ones who died, paying close attention to emotions they cried. We cling to a hope with bright and better days, eager for the end of these dark and miserable ways. One day this will end and we’ll put it all behind with tranquil memories of the lost within our minds.

The Pandemic Way Rashanai Moore She lies on her bed sad and upset Wondering when she’ll go outside next Tossing and turning around the bed Counting down the hour she’ll go have fun instead Then she opens up her computer to work right away Scrolling up and down the laptop wondering what to say She finally gets up to stretch taking breath by breath On to another video call to learn a different way Quietness means hang up right away Even though there’s not much to say Here as a student she tries so much anyway

Mask Mohammad Siddique Tired of the smell Can't you tell Wishing it all ended with a spell The virus is spreading The mask is preventing The smell though Of hot breath behind all masks Reminds me of my morning tasks Brushing my teeth Cause mask breath is the last thing I want to smell

Somebody Bizhan Shaban Nothing seems normal as it used to be Nobody knows why, still it feels home. Someone has all answers for all your questions But does anyone know how to question? If anyone can become a somebody, There would be no sacrifice. If you knew what it takes to get what you want, Nobody ever thinks twice to call it quits. If you could bow down before your God, There would be nobody to afraid of. Someone in the world is seeking For the blessings you are not grateful for today.

Torn Masquerade Gaetano Solis-Sanchez The lights still prance across the wall, our world like a disco ball hanging on by its last thread. From the bullets of war raining down on protesters in Myanmar to the unforeseeable enemy lurking behind every mask, this masquerade ball has turned into a mad house on the verge of collapse threatening to forever leave its infected blood-stained mark on this broken piece of history. Can we save each other from one another? From the woman whose face is scarred from days alone with the one who has broken the promise to defend her, to the small child working to make ends meet; who will answer the call to save this crumbling ball? Could it be me and you? So tell me, are you ready to answer the call?

Our Journey Noah Radecki It was just some time ago Me and my friends did not know We thought we would see each other tomorrow But instead we became filled with sorrow No more laughs no more gaffs It was just some time ago We were locked up, quarantine felt so slow Everyone was scared to leave their home For some, the insides turned into a cyclone No more stability no more tranquility It was just some time ago Everything reopened very slow Somewhat back to normal, bans lifted Dining out, shopping, and more are no longer restricted No more gripe no more tripe

Coughins John Wilcox We are all tucked away inside our little coughins The living dead Claustrophobia calmed by consumer chloroform Our veins leading us to Netflix Nirvana Our minds taking us back to the days of searching for our Blockbuster card Blame the plague for the lack of peptides It still doesn’t answer why we were smoking three packs of Wellbutrin a day prior Begging to go back to a job you were fired from for lack of attendance Thanks Obama Curating our funeral procession with the help of Siri Writing our eulogies on each other’s Facebook walls Zooming live from our living rooms All living or Dying Inside our Coughins

Spend Time with Loved Ones John Wilcox As long as the cemeteries are still open Why should we mourn? Everything is as it should be

2020 Kristin Stockman New Year, New Beginning. A time to start living, and a time to travel far. All the new adventures that I will take. Wait, unfortunately that is not what it is. Hand sanitizer, masks, and six feet apart. I’m trapped inside, I’m out of sorts. Paranoid of germs and all of the struggles. I hope one day it will all just settle. I’m cold, I’m hurt and tired of this. I need a break, I need it to end. Covid-19 is an awful disease and one day I hope we’ll be free. Virtual learning and new routines. Oh why oh why does this have to be.

A Year of COVID-19 Elaina Leith January 2020 Graduating high school Planning a trip to see my best friend in Florida Excited to begin my new adult life Covid has just come to the United States February Started college and a new job Started a life outside of high school News has broken that the virus is deadly, and deaths are starting to rise The panic has awakened March My trip was canceled due to restrictions Life was beginning to shut down The grocery stores being flooded like it’s a holiday Companies can’t produce enough toilet paper fast enough A nationwide quarantine has started April Family and I become close Excitement fills my mind having to go to the grocery store Cases have risen to millions Millions are without jobs Days are long and dreadful May Counting the days til I see my friends Spring Semester ending George Floyd protest starting Black Lives Matter movement starting Corona Virus deaths surpass 100,000 June Summer has started Returned back to work Saw close friends The BLM movement and protests continue July A new normal is born Life is almost back to normal but with a mask 19

A vaccine is created August Begin a new job Starting to think about my birthday New types of Covid tests are created September A new semester has started Birthday has passed A countdown til I begin at a new college has started New York is in phase 3 October Life without a mask seems to be near A cousin is born My first car goes to the junkyard The presidential election is the new headline Numbers for coronavirus cases are beginning to rise November Voted for the first time First Thanksgiving without a house full of people Numbers have risen again Western New York is in the orange zone Nonessential businesses are shut down December One month til I move to a new state Businesses are opening back up Cases are under control again The new year is coming Maybe a life without a mask is near

The Chair LaVita J. Spentz My dad’s old recliner chair is a place I love to sit. It’s my comfort zone where I write and look out the window, The chair is where I sat each morning before the pandemic hit. No birds singing their morning songs right on cue, No movement from people walking or driving by, It was like a Stephen King movie and I was the only one alive. Living alone didn’t help the emptiness I felt each day, The chair became my best friend as we got through this together, There was no one to talk to and let them know that I’m okay. The chair gave me comfort and confirmation that someone was near, Writing in my prayer journal, all my thoughts were all I had, Each day I felt so alone, depressed as I kept reminding myself that God is here. The chair and I have never been the same, I’m free to be me. Like the prison warden releasing me, I can now go out and socialize, I will always follow the guidelines and wear my mask when I go outside.

Frontline Heroes Willem Kulniszewski Always prepared for everything, Brave Courageous Dedicated Eager to help those who they meet. Frontline heroes they are. Great teamwork Helping through troubling times. I salute thee. Juggling the stress of both work at home and at the office. Kind and compassionate. Legends they are. Masked and ready, Never afraid to get their hands dirty. Outstanding ovations they deserve. Patients constantly come in and out of care. Quietly waiting for this to be over, Ready for the future to come. Smart doctors oversee the work being done. Teamwork that cannot be beat. Up and up to the top they go. Very nice to be greeted by friendly faces. Working passionately X-cellent work You and I salute them all. Zen shall come.

About the Two Felled Adirondack Chairs Frozen on the Patio Jennifer Campbell, SUNY Erie Professor of English Poem originally published in Evening Street Review I know what it looks like. I’m sure the neighbors think we’ve given up the act, upper-middle order upended, refused the fire pit and tucked away Tiki bar. Not a failing, these light chairs stay the course all winter, whether frozen upside down or blown across the yard, reminders of endurance and a touch of madness. They are snow rulers and weather barometers, perches for the birds that decide it is mild enough to stay. Bark-brown, the plastic chairs have a place against green or white. And my husband and I watch them, out the window, through the sliding door, reporting on their micro movements, certain the toppled seats will remain for the next time we desire to fill them.

I Am Over This Amber Falbo Does anyone know What day this ends? I learned to stop making plans After my wedding was postponed the 3rd time. If anyone has any idea What time we can see each other again I will happily bake some bread I have had plenty of practice. Can anyone tell me If it’s safe to go shopping? My kids have grown out of all of their clothes They only wear pajamas anyway, so I guess it doesn’t matter. Does anyone want a hug? I haven’t randomly hugged someone in so long And I am afraid I never will again.

Covid 19: When Will the End Come? Victoria Mattos One thing hangs over our heads The thing that we most dread The starter of most fights Whether the piece of cloth is wrong or right. Is this ever going to end? All of the misery and pain Seeing your friends through a lens. Will it ever be the same? Losing the one you love But not able to be there at all. I pray to the heavens above But there is no way to console The new waves that never seem to finish The happiness I once knew now being diminished. When will the end of this come? I am looking forward to when Corona is one day gone.

Pandemic Curfew Yar Mahmood I did not believe that this pandemic would get to the point where people would sit at home and be cut off from any human interaction. It was very hard times for me and others. It was very difficult for me because I was used to going out to see friends and having good times every now and then. For the world to announce a curfew was even more shocking to me. That was the moment when I really believed that the pandemic could get to any one of us. The pandemic has affected the entire world and made a huge impact on the way people have lived and the way they have processed a normal day. It reached the entire world due to the fast spread of the virus. Many people have died, and many have suffered from chest pain and other symptoms that affect the entire body. Most of the people who died were old people or young ones with weak immune systems. Thankfully, vaccines will help to build a strong immune system and will be able to fight the virus. Speaking of curfew, this pandemic has brought new ideas and solutions to the world. And those solutions begin to look a lot like problems. For example, online school is happening everywhere. I know it is not very new to the world, maybe, but it certainly is for me. I still find it very difficult because I have never had such experience. English is my second language, and I have experienced extra difficulties to succeed and get to where I am now. I have worked too hard to be told I must wait for permission.

The Presence of Time Keri Green The vibration of my phone felt as if someone was shaking the bottom of my bed repeatedly. I jumped up, realizing there were already two missed phone calls and two text messages; it was the third phone call that startled me. "Hello,” was barely out of my dry mouth but my lips motioned the word hello, so it was repeated after clearing my throat, “Hello?!” “We can't find him, he is not in his room,'' said the loud, quivering voice. “What are you talking about?” was my reply. Immediately I sat up in my bed, wiping the sleep from my eyes. “Who are you talking about?” “Nick. We can't find him and he's not in his room and I know he was here when I left yesterday, but we can't find him,” the anxious voice quivered through the speaker of the phone. Turning towards the clock, the bright blue glow showed 6:13 a.m. Monday morning. Suddenly there was another voice in the distance, but this one was stern, saying, “Why did you wake her up? I'm handling it!” The quivering voice responded, “Well, she needs to know.” Softly asking if everything was alright, the distant voice was no longer so distant and replied, “Nick is fine and he is at the hospital. I don't know why they keep calling you. They were told not to call you and use me first and that was not an emergency situation that I could not have handled.” We jokingly laughed because we know it will take time before they correctly follow the chain of command. They will continue to call especially since my phone number has to be accessible. Another glimpse at the clock and I realize more time has passed. It is now 6:49 a.m. and class begins at 8 a.m. Luckily due to the pandemic, class is now online so there was no need to rush out of the house and drive frantically to get the best parking spot in the lot. Laying back down onto the soft pillows and pulling the weighted blanket over my legs, there was hope the next hour would be better than the first one. Trying to relax before fully committing to waking up, there was hope of being comforted by the bed, pillows, and blanket. My eyes were closed tight so as not to look at the clock. The clock now says 7:45 a.m. and I still need to get ready for class during a pandemic! I feel like a schoolgirl wanting to look good for the first day of class; this is the first official web meeting so anxiety and uncertainty of what to expect set in. The days of showing off new school clothes to your peers used to be a nice confidence booster. Today, confidence would be boosted just by being on time and online for the classes. The moment has arrived and it is 8 a.m.; eager to begin, the button to join the meeting icon appears. It is pressed and immediately a feeling of video overload from all the faces showing on the screen happened with thoughts of MSNBC and the ticker that shows up on the screen; too much movement is going on. Then, there is a face trying to hide behind a binder with a cloud of smoke rising from the right side of the binder and the voice in my head says, “Wow, she’s vaping. Does she know we can see her?” Then, there is a baby’s hand hitting at her mother's face and the mother is pulling away from her while trying to adjust the image on the screen. Then, there's feet that show up behind someone's head and next there is a loud echo that is emitting over the speakers. First, it is very loud 27

and then it becomes a softer, repeated phrase from the instructor saying “Can, can you turn off your mic, can you turn off your mic, someone has their microphone on.” Finally, the screen with the feet disappears and the echoing stops while a gray image shows in a box. Just within the first two minutes there is so much distraction from people moving all over the screen; mics beeping and picking up feedback have me thinking this is really going to be an experience. This brings back memories of sitting in classrooms with dusty chalkboards, small desks with gum stuck on them, wooden tables and chairs, people going to and from the pencil sharpener, and those were the old days of learning. Times have changed! A vision of a silhouette appeared as a reflection of the monitor screen. I turn to see who is in the room with me and barely get a glimpse of a body darting past saying, “Is that on? Are you live? Can they hear me?” “They can hear you and see you, it's a web meeting and I'm on live.” “So, you mean the world just saw me in my boxers?” “I guess so if that's what you have on.” The soft sound of chuckles and laughter was heard through the monitor and speakers; sorry technical difficulties and the video was stopped. Personally, after stopping the video, a long sigh of disbelief mixed with relief was let out; this is not going to be as smooth as planned with all the faces on and off the screen and the family roaming in the house. There were too many distractions and the camera had to be adjusted and more time was spent getting things together for this new style of learning during a pandemic. Now, the camera was one that was attached via USB port and it had to be propped up on something due to the monitor being a 70-inch smart television; it just would not attach properly. The mouse is wireless and the keyboard is wireless, so I had to ask my son to adjust everything so it would fit securely and then it could go back on live video footage. The video playing icon is pressed and the screen shows a preview of comfortable pillows that surround me on the sofa. A deep sounding voice alerts me and says, “Mom, I need my camera back. I have to video stream.” Looking at the clock on the screen, the time says 8:40am and the first thought in my head is, “When is the time going to ever end?” This is my first web meeting and it did not go as planned. My reply is, “Okay, let’s print out my materials for class first and then you can have everything.” Feeling defeated and not wanting anyone to know, the syllabus and handouts were printed and looked over to ensure it matched what the instructor was discussing. The instructor then says, “Okay see you next week, make sure your cameras are turned on because I need to see your faces.” Then she waved goodbye to everyone. As the first class came to an end, the anticipation of what the remaining three classes would hold had my heart racing and my mind wandering. Understanding how the new education platform works has me reminiscing of prior days sitting in the classroom. The sound of pages flipping in books, teachers standing in front of the classroom, walking the floor, and only writing what they perceived as important information on the chalkboard is a time not forgotten. The only technology was a standard calculator and a mechanical pencil, and you were not allowed to use the calculator for everything. Today, we use computers with built in video or webcams, cell phones and laptops; that is just the way it is. Guessing it will be like riding a bike when you fall off and then you get back on it; you go a little further and a little faster and next thing you know you are headed in the right 28

direction. Everything just takes a little time. Fortunately, life is a lesson and over time we all can learn the presence of time during a pandemic!

Groundhog Day Liberty Hens How I envy the rabbits and birds that are completely aloof, their routines have not changed. Six feet apart does not apply in the sky, or within the tall grass where they hide. I resent the trees for the trees know no quarantine. I miss the smiles that were bright like the sun, now covered by masks. I simply long for the rain to wash the virus away. I am trapped in Groundhog Day. My world has temporarily stopped. But earth keeps spinning.

This Is Just to Say —after William Carlos Williams Ian Dewolfe I have taken the mask that was in the dryer the one you must have saved for your next outing Forgive me it made me feel safe so fresh and so warm

Object of the Year Jordan Czaja I never thought in a million years I would ever have to wear a mask. When going out in public, I no longer can see familiar faces and the smiles they once had. The mask is the most important object of 2020. Although we wear them for protection, keeping six feet apart from the ones you love has made this year depressing. I know the mask is beneficial, but it makes the world a different place. I wear the mask to protect myself and to protect my community. The population of the world has suffered greatly by the virus. I never thought in a million years that something we can't see with a naked eye would terrorize a place so big.

Mask Pierce Cochrain Before the pandemic, the majority of masks we saw were on Halloween. Now, it is something we can't leave the house without. To get food, go to work, stock up on groceries, all require this protection. They said it was for our own protection. We need this mask to keep everyone safe. I like this mask. A year after the pandemic started, and here we are. Still carrying this mask everywhere we go like a wallet. Hard to breathe, extremely hot. The number of cases is dropping. They said it was for our own protection. I'm tired of this mask. I hate this mask.

Mask On Dredon Page It’s astounding that the mask is now the protection of life. At a time, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo once said that people who refuse to wear masks are considered disrespectful. Little knowledge of masks, you will not understand the importance of masks. “A mask is a covering made of fiber or gauze and fitting over the nose and mouth to protect against dust or air pollutants or made of sterile gauze and worn to prevent infection." Masks are the prevention of receiving the coronavirus. The coronavirus is a deadly virus, and masks prevent people from spreading it to one another. Wearing a mask is like wearing your seat belt. Wearing a seat belt will protect you from accidents, where a mask will protect you from the infection. When it comes to wearing a mask there are all different types. My preference for masks makes me feel protected. The N95 mask makes me feel that I can go outside and feel safe. I feel like I am isolated from the world when I wear a mask. Others prefer special masks to meet their needs. People would sometimes wear a custom mask to go with their outfit, to be safe in style. People wearing masks will be protected. Masks have always been around for years, whether being used for disguises or simply as masks. People who use a mask as a disguise usually do it to protect themselves from the outside world. Masks give people the encouragement they need in order to continue to live their life while being protected from their appearance. Wearing a mask has become a part of American life. Masks have become a sign of safety. Others would disagree and say that mask is useless and unprotected. Our Ex-President Trump once said that people shouldn’t wear a mask even due to the circumstances people are facing due to the pandemic. Without a mask, you will be airborne. People are more likely to become affected because they refused to wear their protection gear. Wearing a mask is one of the most important precautions you can take to prevent the coronavirus infection. Knowing that a mask is a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others, I would encourage people to wear a mask to remain safe and protected. Wearing a mask is the step to greatness; if everyone can continue to wear a mask, the world would remain a safe place.

Toilet Paper Gabriella Scoccia It is six in the morning, the sun is not out yet, but I’m heading to Target to see what I can get. The shelves are empty, what did I expect? It is the twenty-twenty pandemic after all. I still have high hopes, so I walk to the back — look there it is! The last roll of toilet paper. Not once in my life I was so happy to spot something that I always had in stock. I can now head home and tell everyone I got the goods, I better run and put it in my trunk, so it is secured. At home now I stay, until the next time we run out. This is what the pandemic is all about.

The Clorox Spray Meaghan Jack When you need it most, you can’t find any. You drive to the store, hoping you will be able to find it. You can’t even find the generic version of it. You ask the sales associate, the manager, and the person behind the customer service desk, hoping there is some in the back, with no luck. You try Amazon, eBay and even Etsy, but unless you want to pay a hundred dollars for it, you’re out of luck. You ask around on Facebook for anyone who could spare some, or for some for a reasonable price, with no luck. So, you resort to the neighborhood group chat, finally with luck. Jenny will sell you some off brand version for twenty bucks only one per person. It makes you think of how ungrateful you were when they were stocked so high on the shelves less than a month ago. ~ I wrote this poem in theme of remembering what it was like right when the pandemic started. I remember going to Walmart, Target, and the Dollar Store and remembering how scary it was not being able to get any disinfecting cleaners.

The Mask Victoria Pullara The movie The Mask funny you should ask maybe not a movie but something that makes me feel gloomy I wear on my face as it has meaning I lay awake in my bed dreaming that it won't have to be a daily object Will it match my outfit? I can admit it's ugly and never does the day when I can see people's faces oh my gosh we can all relate Mask, something safe and trustworthy will the end of it all still remain a mystery? You hurt my ears and ruin my makeup please go away you are no longer a part of my day

Mask Cole Martin The mask is hot and uncomfortable Especially the N95 you can’t breathe it makes your lungs hurt Going out every day having to wear this piece of cloth Is what we are doing helping the cause I thought it was only 15 days One year later we are still staying 6 feet back Not grouping up staying home is it helping? Some say no some say yes but do we really know How much longer is this going to go on for? This cannot be our new normal However, the rules are starting to lessen When will this end, is there a light at the end of the tunnel? When are we going to go back normal? This can't last forever

Mask Samantha Sorrentino It is the most common object of 2020 thus far The suffocating, irritating nuisance stuck to your face like glue Every time you walk out the door it’s on you Or find yourself in a crowd, everyone has one on It has become our "new normal," as the world calls it For some it can be a reflection of their personality and for others it feels like their freedom is being taken away There is no way around wearing one If we want this virus to go away, we must all do our part But I can’t help being annoyed strapping it to my ears And God forbid I forget my mask in the car and have to go all the way back to get it Is 2020 over yet?

Student —Inspired by “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid Caitlin Kerling Fall is approaching; make sure your classes are set up, figure out what classes are online, and which classes are held on campus; you don’t have much free weekends left, so enjoy seeing your friends while you can, but don’t have too much fun, you don’t want to get sick; make sure you don’t forget your mask; classes start next week, so make sure you have your notebooks ready; make sure you take your laptop in to get cleaned since you don’t want to deal with another semester with a slow computer; make sure your white shirts are cleaned and ironed for work this weekend and every weekend; when you’re getting ready for work, make sure your hair is off your face; make sure you put some makeup on, because after all, a cute boy might walk into the restaurant; don’t forget your mask! The gyms close early, so you can’t work out after your shift like you used to; make sure you find time in your busy schedule to go after class or on your days off from work, and don’t forget your mask; make sure you stay focused since classes are starting to give out homework assignments; don’t get mixed up with any boys, boys are nothing but trouble, and it’s not worth it; make sure you wake up early and get ready for virtual learning, take a lot of notes, be attentive, and don’t get distracted—but Hudson looks so cute while he’s playing a cat and mouse game with my pen—I’ll just look for a few minutes, what’s a few minutes going to do? I’ll make up the work later; don’t procrastinate, make sure you finish your homework on time, and if you don’t understand what the professor is teaching, watch a lot of YouTube videos, since after all, online chemistry is hard—I can’t be the only one confused with kinetics—maybe you should have kept up with your reading; make sure you stay home, you don’t want to get your parents sick, and we are approaching the orange zone; make sure you only go out for groceries, the bank, or a quick Target run; make sure you don’t forget your mask! Times are stressful, and staring at a screen all day can be strenuous, but stay focused; make sure to keep your immunity up; invest in elderberry supplements, cats claws, zinc, probiotics, and take a boat load of vitamin C; make sure to take them every day; make sure you cook more paleo dishes, and decrease your sugar intake; make sure you have a spare clean mask handy; no, don’t hang out with your friends or that boy, we are in the middle of a pandemic, and you have to study for chemistry; you don’t have time to do anything, your cats are your friends now, so make sure you clean their litter box; make sure you’re ready for more early morning virtual learning, and you didn’t just roll over from your bed—I feel like a fly trapped in between the four corners of a window and a screen, desperately wanting to experience the outside world again— just keep scrolling through social media, living vicariously through old memories to escape current monotonous moments, but don’t let that take up too much time for you have chemistry to work on; make sure you stay focused, the semester is almost over; make sure you get enough rest, don’t stay up too late again; make sure you have your classes set up for next semester, since you’ll be doing it all over again; but what if classes continue to remain online next semester; you mean to say after all you’re really going to be the kind of student to lose their focus?

Locked in Diosmaries Castro one day I hope to roam freely without fear of the disease and no social distancing in a crowd of people shoulder to shoulder no masks Have you seen New York City? the city that never sleeps now fast asleep once so loud and full of life people are what make the city now they’ve all gone into hiding for fear of the disease I yearn for human interaction for social connection to be able to live in my 20’s Will we ever go back to life before the pandemic?

Corona Snail Huda Alkhazraji OMG, snail mummy snail did we ever need virus/corona to control us! Dangerous virus; scaring the wealthiest, the poorest and the ones in power No, it is a serious problem it is growing and doesn’t want to stop The avian with pigs flu are redoubtable So, be careful of Corona it is perfidy and it will quarantine you Drink honey green tea or lemonade and be sure to open windows regularly Corona has become a ghost over the world, it is a disease not only symptoms, it needs a cure It is not inanimate or furniture piece it is a pandemic that attacked insanely As advice follow the guidelines Do not kiss, hug, and avoid crowds; you must wear a mask and always sanitize OMG, we will not be able to even blow a balloon Snail mummy snail

The Great Pandemic Travis Flores The beauty of life is clear, But now we live in fear. Is there a cure for this disease, If not, stay indoors please. Our elders are in extreme danger, But the youth selfishly gather. Beaches, bars and Covid parties, Droplets of infection travel with liberties. We long for loved one’s hugs, But we avoid them like bugs. Birthdays celebrated from cars, Signs of love pass like shooting stars. If we want to win this fight, We must do what’s right; Wear a mask, keep social distance, Take precaution and witness perseverance.

Superior to Anger Jamie Syroczynski An extremely strong reaction of anger, shock, or indignation. An emotion we have all experienced in our lives for one reason or another. It is greater than a simple anger; it can be paralleled to deep fury combined with a surprise element. This concept is often not discovered or understood well as youths, but it is developed through adolescence. A feeling that develops in some with maturity and others with wisdom. It is a firework that explodes from deep in your soul. I am outraged; this is an outrage; this is outrageous! It can be triggered by outright offense of one’s beliefs and actions, or strong passion for a certain cause. Although a strong emotion, is being outraged justified in most instances? In some instances, there is little rationalization behind this emotion. This year especially has made outrage a relevant feeling throughout the course of the coronavirus pandemic. In the beginning months of learning about a foreign virus entering America, endless thoughts of who is at fault and who is responsible caused people to develop these feelings that made anger seem inferior; it almost seemed ridiculous. However, with each news report and study released related to COVID-19, citizens have made their premises clear, many having differing opinions from one another. People’s outrage, if not obvious, was not easy to miss. Not all statements were understandable, however; some were just chaotic, baseless claims that became the new normal: “The open raw markets in Wuhan are to blame for this! Who decided that eating a raw bat would be a wonderful idea? Patient zero should have stayed in China. People on cruise ships should stay there for weeks, they might have the virus. Staying at home for two weeks is impossible. Online school is hopeless. There is no toilet paper to be found! Wearing masks should not be required. Everyone is getting laid off, and the unemployment rate is skyrocketing, so the government needs to supply us with stimulus checks. The news is not reliable and cannot be trusted.” In other situations, this intense rage can be defended. Some have voiced their outrage in more rational ways than others. Frontline workers are rightfully outraged at people for disobeying proper personal protective equipment etiquette and not being responsible outside of their homes, hence, possibly resulting in more hospitalizations due to the virus: “Put your mask over your nose, only covering your mouth does nothing. Do not stand so close, stay behind the lines marked on the floor, they are there for a reason.” Essential workers in businesses, both large and small, have also faced similar great angers. I have firsthand experience with this emotion as an essential worker in food service myself. A majority of people have no problem complying with COVID-19 procedures, yet I have dealt with some who were less than willing to follow policies. Customers at times during the pandemic have demonstrated lack of respect or decency for human life with their choices that should be common sense: “It is our company policy that you enter the store with a mask, or we cannot serve you. Please stay behind the plexiglass shield, it is for our and your safety.” Some of these statements seem like they may just cause anger for people, but not to the point of outrage. This is true. The degree that one feels about a certain subject could determine their reaction to things and the claim they make about it. These examples, both indicative and unsubstantiated, reveal that it affects each one of us separately. The pandemic has proved to be a complex challenge for the population all over the world. It is 44

important for us to realize that nobody is alone in being outraged at our lives in the moment. Acknowledging our true emotions, rather than suppressing them, may be a way for people to cope and feel they are not alone in a time when we are trying to physically stay distanced. Sometimes being more than just angry brings our true emotions to light, and when rationalized, it helps us relate.

Alone Kaleigh Andrzejewski A strong gust of silence carries through the house, Crashing into me yet no part of my body reacts. My mind already too far gone, Down, down the rabbit hole of my own thoughts. How do you expect it not to when it is all alone? Alone in the way my mother leaves early in the morning for work, Risking her life with thick masks and gloves to protect from her patients. Alone in the way my father leaves early in the morning for work, Watching as less and less customers step inside of his restaurant. Alone in the way I sit by myself in my room, Staring at a screen that flashes numbers and words at me, None of which my brain attempts to ingest. Here I sit in that deep, dark hole I created, A place I have grown to accept more and more as the days pass by. For I am alone day in and day out, The world at a standstill around me. My phone lights up with a picture of you, Buzzing relentlessly on the cool wooden surface of my desk. It is not the same as before, It cannot be the same as before, But now I am not alone.

Crumbs Allison Panek You know when you dunk a cookie in milk? When it sits for too long and gets soggy? That is how this long quarantine has felt, This nightmare has left us feeling groggy. Now I get there’s many types of cookies, Some aren’t even phased by the cold dairy. But some of us out here are just rookies, Recklessness summoning the life fairy. The longer we are in here, we break down. Losing sanity instead of flavor, Dripping crumbs into a cut-off small town. Gingerbread kids who need social savior. Dear universe, please take our cookie out. Disease deserves guillotine—bring a drought.

In a Blink of an Eye Elizabeth Roof In a blink of an eye everything had changed, For the elderly in the nursing homes, Not knowing if they would ever leave their prison cell, Locked up and nowhere to go, Nurses coming in looking like astronauts, Fearing for their own lives and family as well, One by one a staff member is positive, Leaving the elderly helpless and testing too, Their weakened immune systems are torn down, They are scared and frightened, Staffing is down, The elderly gets neglected and has unknown signs of death, Only a few get to go to the hospital where they fight for their lives, Only a few get to survive and make it back, To tell the story of the neglect and survival of the deadly virus, In a blink of an eye everything has changed, Stay home and fight for yourselves, And most importantly everyone around you.

Baseball During Quarantine Matthew Robertson After more than four months of waiting We are finally going to have a season And why it took so long to approve I know not the reason I drive to my first game out in Cayuga And for the diamond, I keep my eyes peeled The smile starts to fade from my face As I see no one has maintained the field After we run our warm-up drills I grab my bat, ready to step up to the plate Everybody was ready to start Except for the umps, who were thirty minutes late We take the lead rather quickly And we’d usually be shouting together without a care But rules are very different this year So, we have to cheer from our individual camping chairs It’s their turn to bat and one guy pops it up I throw my mask off to make the catch and call But the umpire awards the kid first base Because we had used the other team’s ball We end up blowing out the other team And I stop at Sonic for a quick snack Even though this season is unusual I’m still so glad that baseball is back

When will it end? Saige Carlson Days repeating Put on masks without hesitating Trapped inside, like zoo animals Everyone separated by walls COVID will never go away We must start living today How much longer will this last? Thought a few days off would go by fast But instead a few days off Even without a cough Turns into the new reality Hard hits at mentality When you are stuck inside You push responsibility aside Everything seems fake How long can a cure take? Loss of family due to the disease Losing hope quicker than I can say the word “bees” Students’ freedom and fun taken away New rules they must obey Mental health all time low Days going by so slow How much longer? Maybe we will come out stronger

Letter to the Editor: Eradicate the Penny! Jacob Abdallah Do you ever look at something just laying down on the ground and wonder, how did you last this long? And no, I’m not talking about a pet rock, I’m talking about the infamous one cent in the U.S. currency called the penny! This iconic coin is more costly than you think. It costs about double the value to produce, and the U.S. government has lost over $72 million making this useless coin. Let’s not forget that we United States citizens ultimately pay for that production and to see our hard-earned money go down the drain like that is just wasteful. As an 18-year-old, I am new to taxes and the tax-paying process, but I sure know that $72 million isn’t cheap. With this knowledge, and just simply working at a nearby Wegmans, the disappearance of the penny in the economy would not be a burden to anyone. Heck, I see pennies lying all over the ground everywhere I wander. If the penny were so important, wouldn’t people go back and retrieve it? Not in this case. Of course, there will be few people affected by this elimination process, including but not limited to penny collectors, some miners, and U.S. mint workers. Those workers would probably thank us for saving them the hassle and so would the legendary Abraham Lincoln. Ultimately, this change would be the best for the economy and everybody. If we were able to eliminate the ½ cent-coin in 1857, surely, we can retire the penny in 2020!

Sturgeon Point —Inspired by an article from CBS News from March 8th, 2020, entitled "March 2020: Dr. Anthony Fauci talks with Dr. John Lapook About Covid-19" Mathea Riley When the ice melts away and sunsets again Boast their pinks and purples and sultry oranges, When winter steps aside to reveal her younger sister Are there usually such jagged scars? Is the beach usually so violently still? I hear cursing and crying under that thin Layer of white silence. It is not the silence Of absence. It is the sting after a slap. Is it supposed to be this hard to see the sun? Where are the children in their yellow rain boots? Was last time our last time? This stillness is one that has lurked for eons. Only now it has begun to scream.

If I Were a Kingfisher Richard LaClair, SUNY Erie professor emeritus The mythical Greek bird could calm December seas. If I were a kingfisher, I would calm the angry souls of Americans and open our eyes to all that we have: The wonders of medicine, the finest of healthcare, which many kings and princes still do not possess. Neighbors whose lives offer us wisdom of parallel struggles, victories and lossesall part of our social selves. Access to work: places for success beyond home— the language and partnership of peers, skills, mobility. Freedom to seek spiritual selves— value of the individual; finding mutual ethics; successful navigation through society. Yes, if successful, I will fly a Kingfisher through America and rise to Zeus, winged victory.

The Window Victor Baez How many times have I stared through the glass and seen small children play with their loved ones as they would skip and run all through the grass? They do not know of near tribulations. The lockdowns hit, and businesses closed down, everyone had to stay home and distance themselves. The masks came to cover the frown that everyone wears. There is no assurance in what will happen going forward from now but one thing is certain: people grow evermore tired of the masks and become restless from being indoors. We don't know when this all will end, but now I stare through a window with no one to look unto.

I Wish in the Nursing Home of Your Heart —after Robley Wilson Rebecca Butler I wish in the nursing home of your heart, you would let me be the window where you come to talk and giggle a little. I imagine the faces that you used to make: the wrinkles, that smile, that cute grandma face. Now, we laugh and grin, but it's all through a mask. Our time seems numbered, but how long will this last?

Freedom Roberto Cordone What is it like to be free? Is it good or bad? Does it last a lifetime and go away with a snap? It has been too long I cannot remember too well How good it feels to walk around without a mask. Freedom is all we have and the biggest price to pay. Freedom feels like finally escaping that mental maze, Freedom for me is not washing my hands a thousand times And it is not forgetting my mask and running back inside. Freedom for me is having a clear choice, good or bad And not keeping my thoughts stuck inside my head. These last few months have not been free Stuck inside my house with just the tv as a friend. It is just painful and unfair I will never believe That I will live the rest of my life this poorly, this bad!

The Year That Changed Life Olivia Harrington Stuck at home bored out of my mind, Lacked my motivation that made me behind. School online was a struggle, Students' grades began to fumble. Finishing the long day on the screen, Frustrated others making them want to scream. The days flew by like they never existed, Causing many to get confused and get them twisted. Many took advantage of the time they had. They found new interests and were glad. Not being able to leave our home Led many others to feel alone. Jobs were cut from members of families. The money lost began many tragedies. Stress is the word to describe 2020. All in a nutshell, emotions felt empty. Eating the same thing day by day, Changed my mood, I would say. As the boredom of life started abnormal, Now, it is actually the new normal.

I’ve Had Plenty of Twenty-Twenty Lexi Randall Starting with the passing of my grandpa Only set the mood That quarantine would be such a feud. Empty shelves filled each store. People protested more and more. This made people grumble, “Is this world going to crumble?” Stuck at home with nothing to do Made me feel like a useless shoe. Online school was such a big task, And everyone was stuck wearing a mask. Hoping for the end of this depression Only caused much more aggression, The end may never come, Especially feeling glum. But at least 2021 is near, And we are hoping for a better year.

Everlasting Imprisonment Isabella Caccamise Trapped inside Taken for granted the lives we had Businesses, schools, social lives all shut down Living day by day, nothing to look forward to Trapped inside Trapped inside Numbers growing of lives lost, who will be next? Boredom kicks in, must find activities to do! High school year is ruined, what a disappointment Trapped inside Trapped inside New rules enforced, people are outraged New normal, what is normal anymore When will this end, and how is this going to be stopped? Trapped inside

The New Normal Brian Erick It has quarantined us It has left us stranded This is… COVID- 19 It has caused some of us to lose hope While others remain strong This is… COVID- 19 It has changed us all Is this the new normal? Wearing masks everywhere we go? This is… COVID- 19 This has been going on for way too long But I guess for now our lives are just… COVID- 19

Through Hardships There Is Light Hailey Getsler Dance can warm the heart Through the pandemic, Many sports unable to play, During these dark and gloomy times, Dance is able to shine through The performing arts, Bringing all together as one, Able to express how one feels, Achieving through lines and shapes, Dancers share their pandemic story The pandemic put many on hold, Life has changed and evolved, Being away from loved ones, We pray that the world will stay As a prosperous place Dancers can warm the heart, Bringing all together as one, Therapeutic some may even say, Putting a smile back on many faces, Dance is able to shine through

Missing Cour O’Gara It’s that uncontrollable laughter That echoes It's the silly Not-quite-mature-yet moments Missing Gone Not a chance to be lived Yet In a seemingly odd sort of fashion We continue on Marching along Laughing along As we create memories through a screen So keep your friends close That little happiness alive You will never be this young again So live it to the fullest The safest that you can No More Missing Out

Safe Grace McNamara I recall when a global pandemic first invaded our world. We were told that this virus would go away in two weeks at most. Here we are almost 10 months later still figuring out how to stay safe. Nothing has changed. Times are getting tougher. People are celebrating birthdays and holidays over Zoom and talking to others through a piece of glass. We’re all still figuring out how to stay safe.

Hope Ascending Jeremy Ferguson At dawn our lives were turned upside down The world was dark, the world was dank Pain brought on by an evil Crown And by noon, our feeble hearts heaved and sank At dusk there’s hope, a new day calls But in the end it fades And now, as night falls I see the troops pull down their shades But alas, upon the plain I see A miracle rising like the sun A glimpse of the cure, the savior, the key Leading to a pandemic unspun

An Unforgettable Birthday Kristen Coghlan It feels weird when you awake on this special day No presents, no friends, no parties or cake You stretch and rub your eyes while rising to your feet You take a peek outside, and what’s seen is really neat Honking down the street is a line of cruising cars Loved ones holding posters and waving from afar The idea of parties, presents, and cake may now be obsolete Instead enjoy your special day watching cars cruise down the street

Uncertainty Ben Michlinski Uncertainty only foreshadows bad things to come For fear strikes the heart of every individual A common fear against a common foe The threat invisible, yet the effects made known. These people don’t like to be afraid Some turn to each other, to fight together But they never seem to realize What unites us can bring out the worst in us. These people despise uncertainty They express their hate in riots Others retaliate, also full of hatred These people are also scared. This uncertainty brings desperation The strongest among them must make the decisions When a hospital is full, all defibrillators taken Whose life is worth more? Why am I endangered by those around me? How do I avoid this invisible threat? Fear has spread more rapidly than the virus It plagues the world, brought by uncertainty It could demand a sacrifice from any one of us Isolate who it chooses, hope it doesn’t choose you.

Covid The Devil Louis Deluca No face, but is scary to peer at Like an elephant when it finds a nearby rat Its heart would be cold enough to slide a puck While our lives are being picked and plucked Its horns sharp enough to pierce the sky Sneaking up on us like a skilled spy It’s known as being silent and deadly Picking out people like a fruit medley Standing at 7 foot 6 towering over you Ready to stomp on you with its size 25 Nike shoe It is often compared to the common flu But this has more twists and turns than a corkscrew Everything we are used to is now gone Because Covid the devil is sitting upon our front lawn

New Hobbies Tyler Sowinski I hate staying in, So, I must go out and sin. Today’s the day to learn, And not be put in an urn. I want to land a nollie, But all I can is an Ollie. I want to kick flip up a curb, That would be real superb. But since Corona has made everything bland, I must go out and land.

The Curse of Free Time Seth Stewart Time is a gift, a gift we take for granted. But when given extra time, it reveals to be a curse. When the pandemic arrived and everything shut down, everyone was given time. One would think this “gift” was wisely used. Like fixing something you never had time for. The reality is, everyone was too focused on what problems the world was experiencing, and people just waited, scared and anxious, watching the pandemic unfold. So, free time is a curse, one that everyone wanted.

The Spread Mia McCarthy Desperate times call for desperate measures, trying our best for our loved ones to be safe. Wear a mask they say, wash your hands, stay away six feet, no less, this is the primetime of our lives, and we must live it in isolation. We tend to forget anyone besides ourselves, we tend to forget who we are wearing the masks for. Our systems can contain it but can our parents’, grandparents’ and others? We must unveil the fact that we are stuck in a new world with new problems, a world where we must be unselfish and not be invincible.

Breckenridge, CO, 2020 Ashley Bindig Bereft, icy streets reach empty arms, longing for the jostling crowds that had once trekked them, pining for the laughter and the bustle that had been commonplace. The silence had fallen all at once like a sudden loss – like an unexpected, wasting illness – leaving behind shock, desolation. Two weeks. That’s what we’d been told. The town was nestled in the sheltering arms of great mountains that had once glittered with a thousand glowing lights, refracting them and shooting them back glinting like tiny stars that blanketed every slope. Once, the hills had been a haven. They’d flocked to the hills with their hopes and their laughter and they’d all fallen together – new friends and old – the cold air snapping like joyous fire in their lungs, shining out of their eyes and the red of their cheeks. Excitement was palpable in those days, and the pure joy of flight. Two weeks. That’s what they’d said. It’s been longer. The darkest part of the year has gone by, and there was no one to comfort the hills with light and laughter in the deepest cold. Stores that had once been havens of warmth and commerce off the beaten ice are hollowed out and black. Hot cocoa and cracking fires have no place within them, because no one is there to enjoy them any longer. The few who venture are turned away by penciled signs, written a long time ago by hopeful people who had believed they’d be back soon. It couldn’t be more than a month. We’d been promised. Maybe as long as six weeks. But now, the winter’s almost over. Once the town in the mountains, under the clear winter sky, had been a place where visitors were family, united by a shared love of the snapping cold and the freedom of flight across a crust of pure snow. Now they’ve all gone away. We’d taken it for granted what the hills gave us. Under the static on the radio, unrest blooms like ice, hardening across still water. We’ve all-but forgotten what it is to be one. Ice sets in.

Frontline Hero Jaquetta Greer The year 2020 was a big change for everyone worldwide; businesses shut down, schools closed, and gyms and salons as well everything we thought we would need for everyday living were shut down in the blink of an eye. Covid-19 has brought a change to families that they thought they would never have to experience, not being able to have gatherings, travel, or do family functions anymore. People have been without income for about nine months now, quarantined with their families. Practicing social distancing was something new for everyone and it’s recognized as the new normal lifestyle we must live now. Hospitals are getting highly populated with patients with Covid worldwide and it is my pleasure to be recognized as a frontline hero helping people who are very sick due to this virus or any other illness that they may have. Being recognized as a frontline hero, or in other words an essential worker, is one of my greatest achievements of what I do. Getting up five days throughout the week to put myself at risk to help someone else makes me feel good about doing what healthcare workers do. While other things have been closed or shut down, my job Millard Fillmore Suburban is one place that stays open 24/7. As a frontline hero, it is our job to provide a routine essential service in the medical practice. Giving direct care to a patient just by greeting them when walking in their rooms, to administering medicine, or even transporting them in their beds to different units like ICU, or the NICU or even sometimes up to labor and delivery, or just helping the get cleaned up. I get asked questions all the time like how can you do this and you have small children at home, and my answer is every time I love what I do but I always use the proper PPE. When going into a room that is labeled contact and droplet precautions, we always dress down in the proper PPE. We have surgical masks, blue gowns, hairnets, goggles and N-95 masks. Being a frontline worker can take a lot out of you and be a lot to deal with due to the fact of you’re exposing yourself to everyday germs of this virus, but when using proper handwashing and PPE and getting tested, you will always be up to date on things and won't have to worry so much about if you're taking anything back to your home or family. All employees that are scheduled to come in must walk through the front entrance, get screened every day, and must wear a surgical mask throughout the entire shift. Just for extra protection, I wear my N-95 under my surgical masks. Every day I am more scared of the rates getting higher because we are running out of room for patients in the hospital. Being a frontline worker was one of the best career paths I could've chosen; not only can I help my family, but I can help others and feel good about doing it. To know that someone else is trusting me with their life makes me happy.

Nurse Morris Johnson III The word I have chosen to define is nurse. Although it has been suggested the dictionary definition not be mentioned, it is a necessity for the purpose of comparison. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines nurse as, “a person who cares for the sick and infirmed. Specifically: a licensed healthcare professional who practices independently, or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist, skilled in promoting and maintaining health.” This is the standard definition from the outside looking in. What is the true definition of a nurse? What would a nurse like me define the word nurse to be? Generally, the most inferred meaning of nurse is, men and women who are mostly strangers who take vital signs, pass meds, complete treatments. For patients’ families, a nurse is a person who takes care of their loved ones. To a nurse the word’s meaning is defined as follows: Leader, communicator and professional; an individual who is compassionate, caring and understanding; the adhesive that binds the patient’s experience together; an indispensable asset that safeguards public wellness; at times a patient’s and family’s verbal punching bag; a stubborn mediator between life and death; a unbelievably task oriented, focused prestidigitator; overworked, underpaid and more times than none underappreciated for their efforts; Bearers of the weight of the world on their shoulders, but they take it in stride; purveyors of consistent work ethic and quality under any circumstance; a force that is rarely misdirected by any task faced; a quality control expert that covers their co-workers’ gaps for seamless continuity of care; the day’s best friend or enemy depending on which button you push; strength for the weak when they want to give up; motivation for the strong to keep pushing no matter how bad it gets; hope for those who have lost their own; a shoulder to lean on; an ear to listen to anyone who is having a problem; Empath to families of patients being taken care of; a walking encyclopedia of useless informational facts; the real bosses the doctors work with; the first and lasting impression people have about the medical community; a reliever of pain physically and mentally; a teacher of not only medical issues but of life and experiences; at times a ball of stress wrapped in a calm demeanor; the front line in health care also the last line; the villain who gives shots; the hero who gives stickers after shots; a dictionary of many words when needed; an aura of calm when the proverbial shit hits the fan; an advocate of patient rights and privacies; a predictable attitude based on your approach; a multitasker to the infinite power; continual seeker and sponge for knowledge; an icon of care, confidence and consistency; the back bone of overall patient care; experts of emptying bed pans, foley bags and urinals; a person of very few words and many actions; the worst patients; caffeine addicts; Sleep deprived individual; the epitome of selfless service, honor and integrity; Essential; a lifestyle as it is continual even when not at work; Problem solver extraordinaire; Persons with dark sense of humor; a hero (although they/we deny it). The definition of the word nurse is based on experience and observations of my coworkers daily at my job, and the qualities I try to display. There is no way one can define the word nurse if they have not stepped in the shoes of one. The words in this essay depict but a scratch of the definitive meaning of the word. A dictionary will never be able to give accurate definition to the word nurse, as it holds countless meanings.

communication = false —Inspired by “To the brain, reading computer code is not the same as reading language,” ScienceDaily, Dec 15, 2020 Rami Brown if: you say This stream of number and letters this gobbledygook, this gibberish that you can make sense of this? then, you would say Each word has a function this odd loop of ifs, ors, nots, and ands is part of meaningful commands? else: you say It’s a simple syntax like my ABCs or 123s not some Klingon jargon? I dunno, it’s all nonsense to me.

Letter to the Editor: Staying Safe in Grocery Stores Alex Fath Wouldn’t it be nice to rip off our masks and lift all the quarantine restrictions? Although this does sound appealing, it would have an extremely negative impact on everybody’s lives. For more than seven months, the public has worked hard to follow the restrictions placed upon us in hopes of keeping this virus contained. As a grocery store employee in Western New York, I have worked extremely hard to do my part to keep the store safe for our community. As the holiday seasons approach, we will certainly see a drastic increase in store activity. Now more than ever, both customers and employees of grocery stores will need to increase the efforts put into cleaning and disinfecting common surfaces. While cleaning is unquestionably important, it does little if customers do not continue to socially distance and wear masks. Even as a young person who would not typically die if exposed the virus, I strongly believe that these imposed regulations are imperative to protect the vulnerable. The safest way for everyone to beat this virus is to continue wearing masks and maintain social distancing. Lately, it feels as though when I go to work, I see more and more people without masks. It makes me wonder when did our community become so selfish?

The Year Without an Office Party Lisa Wiley Moslow, SUNY Erie Associate Professor of English A microfiction published December 25, 2020 in Campanadas, a Peruvian digital anthology No small talk. No silly gift exchanges. No pretending to like one another. No awkward introductions of significant others. No ice sculptures or chocolate fountains. No shots at the open bar or spinach dip stuck between our teeth. No social hangovers. No sparkle. We simply don our ugly sweaters and yoga pants, sit at our tidy desks, log on to view the thumb-print faces. We bring our dogs, raise our glasses, grin, unmute, shout, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” and donate $65,000 to the children’s hospital instead.

Letter to the Editor: The New Normal Lana Inluxay The global pandemic, COVID-19, has taken a turn for the worst. This caused the world to shut down, thus forcing all students to turn to online learning. Students are getting laptops and textbooks to take home to ensure they have all they need to complete assignments. Schools are now completely remote for the 2020-2021 school year. Most students are starting to feel the weight of online learning. The students and teachers all around the world cannot keep up with the fast pace of the world. The public school system was not designed to be taught through a computer screen. As a college student majoring in the medical field, I feel now more than ever a hankering for the classroom. I cannot speak for all students, but for myself the four walls of a poorly lit classroom are where I want to be the most. While in the comfort of my own home, I struggle to keep my attention on the lectures. I am not moving from my computer for hours, continuously staring at the screen. Online learning has disrupted not only my physical health but also my mental health. While my family and friends are all enjoying the Christmas spirit, I have forgotten what it looks like outside. I feel as if I am drowning with nobody there to help pull me out. While nobody wanted nor asked for this, this is now the new normal.

Solicit —Inspired by the news headline, "BTS' 'Fix You' Cover Will Make You Love BTS, Coldplay, and Life Itself," Rolling Stone, 24 Feb 2021 Fawziyah Khan We listen to your voices, your beautiful souls, and in this darkness are lifted and embraced. We’ll hold you close so don’t you let us go. For you are the Solace in the darkness of our night. I yearn to give to you what you have graced us, but as everything else with you, that becomes okay too, as I know you feel the way we do with just a mere thought our way.

The Flight that Will Take Me There Gabriella Scoccia My heart is complete when I am with you, sadly, it hurts to be away for long. I want to fly up in the sky so blue! Thank God, I love you, and that makes me strong. When will my beautiful desire come true? I already see the clouds from the plane, I hope you will be the one I sit next to. Please come, even though it does sound insane. How I long to embrace the ones from far, to smell the food they cook with so much love. If they were closer, I could go by car! This distance makes me wish I were a dove. Please, pandemic, I need my family. Oh, living away is a tragedy.

In the Pharmacy of Your Heart —after Robley Wilson Meaghan Jack I wish in the pharmacy of your heart, you would let me be the support that you call to if you are nervous. I imagine the vacations and fun after: It has been a tough year, but the rain is almost done and the adventures in the world will begin again, after you get your vaccine. I wrote this poem in theme for my little cousin, who is going to get the vaccine soon, and is very nervous about it.

A Face to Recognize —after “Slide to Unlock” by Ed Park Dondrae Davis No one would have thought that life would be this way. Everything was going great. You had a good job, your relationship with you and your girlfriend was better than ever until it happened. Hundreds of thousands of people were dying from an infectious disease. It caused a pandemic. Many people lost their jobs, and many people lost loved ones. You were affected by the pandemic by losing both of your parents within three days. It's been a little over four months now since you and your girlfriend have been out of the house. The governor shut the whole state down unless you are deemed an essential worker. You've been laid off from your job for three months now because of the pandemic. No income is coming in, but bills are still expected to be paid. This devastating time created more and more arguments between you and your girlfriend every day. You can suddenly feel the depression starting to settle in. Something has got to give, you think to yourself. First, you start pacing back and forth throughout the one-bedroom apartment that you and your girlfriend share. You grab your Bills starter cap and your black windbreaker with the 40-caliber pistol that you got from your father in the pocket. You take one last look at your girlfriend before storming out the door, slamming it behind you. It was a nice quiet night in the empty streets of North Buffalo. Everyone was at home, not because it was late, but because of the pandemic. You stroll up and down Amherst St., with all of the crazy thoughts running through your head. You continue walking down Hertel St. from one end of Hertel to the other. It was a ghost town. All you can hear in your head is your girlfriend yelling and screaming. You notice a young male walking down the street, heading toward the corner store. You think to yourself; this is it. You throw on your five-dollar pair of glasses and wait on the side of the building until he comes out. After about five minutes, the guy comes walking out of the store, not noticing anything. The guy heads down toward the end of Hertel with a bottle of wine he purchased from the corner store. You see that he passes the street that he had come off. You keep a good enough distance where you're not too close nor too far. You figure maybe you would stick him up for his bottle of wine and the little bit of cash in his wallet. Then he continues to cross the street and glances behind him, unsure if he notices you following him or if he was seeing if there was a car coming down the road. To the ATM he went. As he's inserting his card, you walk up behind him as quiet as a ghost. You pull out that black 40-caliber pistol and press it in his back between his shoulder blades. You can hear his soul leaving his body at that moment. "Don't move and don't make a sound." You grab his wallet and cell phone from his pocket and his bottle of wine out of his hand. "Please don't kill me. I'll give you whatever you want," he says, frightened. You realize that you've gotten what you went for, but then a greedy feeling comes upon you. Quietly but with authority, you say to him, "Password." His fingers start moving frantically over the ATM keypad. Error, the screen says. It was as if his mind went blank, and he suddenly forgot his password. Or was it just that he was stalling. Then it seems if you could 81

see the thoughts that are going through his mind. It was like he was trying to remember his password: The city where you are from. The city where you are from plus your birthdate. Your child's name plus your address. Your mother's name and the year she was born. Your favorite sports team with your favorite player's number. "Quit stalling," you say. The make and model of your first car. The make and model of your first car with a symbol before it. A mixture of numbers and letters where if you unscramble them, they will spell out your street and phone number. It would be so much easier to have updated ATMs with face recognition security to get into your account. Then all you would have to do is grab the back of his head and push his face to the screen. You're standing there waiting for him to figure out the correct password while cars are passing by. By the time the third car drives past, you are fed up. You press the gun into his back harder and tell him, "Password and Right now and Stop stalling." He suddenly starts to cough. Now not only are you angry, but you are also nervous about catching the coronavirus from him. Your conscience tells you to run and, on the other hand, is telling you to stay. All of a sudden, another car comes by slower than the others, and you panic. The next thing you realize, you shove the guy to the ground and take off running down the street. Up the stairs, onto the porch, and into your apartment hallway, you dive. Leaning against the wall breathing heavily, trying to calm down, you look at the cell phone and think maybe he has the password stored in his phone. You hit the side button to light up the screen, and what do you know, it needs the guy's face recognition to unlock the phone.

Black-Hole Binary —a sestina inspired by “A New Era of Black Holes is Here” by Thomas Lewton, featured in The Atlantic 20 Feb 2021 Ashley Bindig *** “Black-hole binary systems are very common in the universe.” – Thomas Lewton *** Happy in the sky I shone as one. Two seemed like one too many fragile hearts. But then you came into my sky to beat as though you were a throbbing flame. To like but not to love was not our way. Dying, to our eyes, looked no sin. In stars we found the fullest flush of love. In stars we found the way to higher life, where two could find a path awash with light, dying to the dark along the way. Braver hearts than ours had shunned the path, but we, bold like the love that fought cruel fate, knew we would beat back all dividing cause. That it might beat us soundly in the end, would shake the stars that brought our dance to birth. At first un-like events would cause a breach, and then we two would find somehow that we could break our hearts. But that could not convince us we were dying. The collision heralded the dying of the light that wrapped us ‘round. All the beat was going from our dance and only heart’s blood would prove the way we could know that stars answer to but One, One that once was TwoConjoined. The Two-Conjoined, as lovers like we were. We cannot see Him now, for like Erebus below our light is dying. But even as we tear our hearts in two, consuming and consumed while beating fast, we can’t forget that love bound stars together. A fire that once warmed our hearts 83

can only burn us with its cold and hearts that glowed with life have gone hollow, tomb-like, as the grave that one day will claim all stars that now dance free, unknowing that the dying takes the glorious sun, and, resting never, beats the offending Savior to the Void. Two hearts can never be as one. The dying of their light must suck their life. Like the beat of unrelenting stars their fates bide two, yet bound. *** “If a pair of black holes, and the stars from which they form, live their whole lives together, the constant push and pull will align their spins. But if the two black holes happen to encounter each other later in life, their spins will likely be unequal.” -Thomas Lewton ***

A Race for Place —inspired by “Coming to Chippewa: New streetscape aimed at boosting downtown’s neighborhood feel” published in The Buffalo News 26 Feb 2021 Caitlin Kerling She was a tired old town. Seasoned infrastructure gave away her age. Shades of gray dominated downtown, Vacant business fronts stood noiseless. By day, cars filled the city, but sidewalks were absent of people. And by night, the wind hushed a lifeless breeze. Some redevelopers turn their cheek, While others see a vision for potential. Projects will start the momentum, Additional lightning, landscaping, and benches will set the stage, Sidewalks will be cleaned and cleared for use, Connecting various parts of the city. Enhancing accessibility and mobility With a goal to make her more attractive, Like the active city it once was. This antique of a city desired youthfulness, A public realm that reflects vibrancy, And a place where people wanted to be.

One Year Later Chloe Zahm The masks are horrible I never thought we would be here They want us to stay safe These are difficult times for all We must follow the rules Hand sanitize everywhere we go Our hands have become raw First responders and nurses are tired But they must work to keep all safe Things are changing in our lives We need a normal life back COVID please say goodbye

Bored, with Everything to Do Louis Dawes Entertainment is “the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment.” I would define entertainment as, enjoying something in order to feel emotion and fill time. The Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 has changed how everyone takes in and produces entertainment. No longer can people go to in-person concerts or shows because of the fear that the virus may be spread. Without being able to go out, people need to come up with new and different ways to pass time and amuse themselves in a time where there are no in-person interactions. Entertainment means not being bored or uninterested with what you are doing. It means not watching the hands on a clock tick around and around waiting for something to do. When you are entertained you are engaged, curious, and wondering what will happen next. In the pandemic, entertainment is very different from entertainment before the pandemic. There are no more live in-person concerts, conventions, or sporting events. People can no longer go out with friends to have fun around town. Now, entertainment is on a screen, instead of standing in the crowd at a football game. Fans are crowded around a television watching the game from their homes, so they don’t spread the disease. This is the same for concerts and conventions and even friend meetups. Now there is no face to face, only face to screen or face to mask. This change has had an extremely significant impact on how entertainment is consumed and distributed by people across the world. Modern day entertainment in a pandemic is different but advanced thanks to technology. Technology has made it possible for people to do things that they previously thought to be impossible. Now the educational system can be accessed entirely remotely. Elementary, middle, high school, and college can be accessed and taught completely over the internet. People all around the planet are able to be entertained by sports and special tournaments that are broadcast in new ways. For example, networks inserted crowd noise into games being held in empty stadiums. Also, the normal sports seasons were altered to accommodate schedules that were changed due to COVID. While the pandemic has hurt us in many different ways that will take years to recover from, it has had a significantly positive impact on entertainment. People have had to become more creative on how to entertain themselves and others, without the ability to go out. Social media has helped folks connect and entertain one another in a larger way than ever because everybody on the planet is dealing with the same problem. The changes that have faced entertainment have been very influential. They have showed us how people can adapt to any situation. People took on the challenge to find ways to help themselves and get more entertainment in an easier fashion. The current situation could be compared to a volcano exploding and making it so nobody could go outside and meet each other due to the poor air quality and conditions. In a situation such as this, humans must adapt to give themselves a life worth living in a harsh situation. Entertainment could be adapted in just the same way as it is now so that everybody across the world can access entertainment and be brought together by entertainment from their own home. Entertainment is needed so that humans can have more fun and enjoy life. If there was no happiness brought about by entertainment, society could become unmotivated and 87

depressed. In a way, during the pandemic entertainment has also helped get people get together more than ever. Even though nobody can meet in person, many more people can entertain one another through a screen and over the internet. Times such as these really show how important entertainment is to keep spirits up and keep us motivated.

What Is Essential? Pierce Cochrain The word essential has been tossed around like a plastic bag in the wind of 2020 due to the pandemic. Essential has been used as an adjective before words like essential workers, how it is essential to wear a mask, and how it essential to quarantine. The vaccine may even become essential when it becomes available. The concept of what makes something essential varies by everyone’s perspective of what they think is essential. That is what makes the word essential unique, because whether something is essential or not is not the same for every single person. Hence, why we have ongoing debates whether or not masks and quarantining are essential to defeat this virus. I think something that is essential is something that benefits my own needs and benefits the greater society as best as possible. This being said, it may not be the most essential element for other people. I am an essential worker. I work as a sales associate at a beer store. We never once got closed due to the pandemic or laws because beer and liquor stores are deemed as essential. Why is it that a beer store is deemed essential, but a gym must close? Is our physical health not essential? Lawmakers have decided what businesses are essential and what ones are not. Although it may not seem essential to them, it is essential to the small business owners who have suffered through this entire pandemic. It is essential that we social distance because there are many health risks with the virus in play. But what also is essential is that we keep our economy going, and not kill off small businesses with closings. Who would have thought McDonald’s and Wegman’s cashiers would be in a position to risk their lives and families’ lives and be deemed essential? Essential grocery store workers and service workers are put in danger every day because of this virus. The thought never crossed my mind before this pandemic that the word essential would become so crucial in society. It is amazing that minimum wage jobs are now just as dangerous as jobs that had high risk before the pandemic hit. The virus really has given the word essential a larger and more in-depth meaning. It has made the world recognize and truly appreciate the meaning of what is essential. The essential workers that have been affected the most by this pandemic have been healthcare workers and first responders, those who have been on the frontlines of all this since the very beginning. The battle against Covid-19 has been essential; these frontline workers have been trying their best to keep the virus at bay. I think we all can agree what they do is essential no matter what your perspective on them may be. These workers already had essential jobs before Covid, and now have to bear the burden of still fulfilling their jobs throughout this world-wide outbreak. The purpose of essentiality from a pandemic standpoint is so we can defeat the virus and move on from it. For something to be essential, it has to be something we need to do or must do. We must wash our hands and wear masks because it is essential to everyone’s health. Do we continue quarantining? Or is it essential that we stop all the social distancing and try herd immunity? For example, online schooling or remote learning. School is essential for everyone, whether it be pre-kindergarten or college. But failing rates for students are at an all-time high now. So, with learning being essential and social distancing being essential, which do we benefit from more? 89

Isn’t everyone essential? Everyone from grandparents, to accountants, to teachers even if they are working from home remotely. The definition of essential varies from perspective to perspective. But what we all know is the battle against this virus has been essential. These past nine months have created a greater overall appreciation for what is essential in our lives. Whether it may be essential workers or how the virus showed us social communication is essential. Essentiality comes in many forms; it holds a huge role in our daily lives. By now, I’ve realized the importance of the word essential’s meaning. Hopefully, you have as well.

Pizza to Your Door in a Flash Joey Grisanti I belong to the classification of people known as essential workers. I am a delivery driver for a pizzeria. Not too long ago, COVID-19 impacted the importance of my job. I never thought my job would be so highly ranked. I feel as if my job is now elevated to superhero status. Who would not love some pizza and wings delivered right to their doorstep? The class of essential workers began in 2020. As an essential worker, I have to deal with a lot: like risk being infected by COVID, not being able to collect unemployment, and the emotional stress of working during the pandemic. I believe essential workers are significant worldwide. As a delivery driver, I am constantly at risk of being infected by the virus. I touch a lot of germy cash, and sometimes share pens for signatures. I come in contact with lots of different customers throughout my shift. I even have to walk into apartment buildings or nursing homes. Sometimes I leap up buildings that are eight stories tall. Some customers even ask me, “Why didn’t you just take the elevator up here?” I just tell them I would rather take the stairs. I do not want to touch the bacteria-filled buttons in the elevator and stand in an enclosed space with other individuals. Sometimes customers will come to the door without a mask, “I’m sorry I forgot a mask. Is that okay?” At this point, they are already in contact with me and there is nothing I can do about it. The best I can do to protect myself from the virus is to constantly hand sanitize after coming in contact with customers and to frequently wash my hands. As an essential worker, being in the restaurant business can be incredibly stressful. I was the busiest I ever was during the pandemic as a delivery driver. On average, I could take about 2 to 3 deliveries at a time, so I have to be well organized with my routes. At times, it can get very annoying dealing with drivers on the road, especially when they are barely going the speed limit. I also have to be aware of my speed, so I do not get a ticket. Let’s just say, some customers get their food faster than expected when I am delivering. The loyalty of our loving customers is what causes us to be consistently busy. Weekends are always the busiest, but it seems like now every day is busy. The phone is constantly ringing, and there is usually someone waiting at the counter to pick up their food. It is as if I am the Flash running to the phone to take orders. Taking deliveries definitely keeps me away from the drama and chaos of the kitchen. Essential workers are pretty much forced laborers. With unemployment rates higher than ever, essential workers are essentially stuck at their jobs if they want to get paid. Those who did not have essential jobs were allowed to collect unemployment. I started taking a lot more deliveries and made better money because of the pandemic. Job opportunities have definitely changed globally. I was lucky enough to already have a job before the pandemic. After being an essential worker for about a year now, I truly realize the importance of my job. Society seems to be afraid to leave their homes for food, so they get their food delivered instead. It brings me joy to know that I am efficiently delivering customers food to their homes. COVID-19 is no match to the superior staff of essential restaurant workers worldwide. 91

Letter to the Editor: Contact during the Pandemic Hyun-A Oh How do you contact others these days? Meeting face-to-face? That’s possible, but it’s better not to. Instead, we can socialize through social networking services and online video platforms. Since last year, most schools around the world urgently adjusted courses with non-face-to-face classes. Thanks to the video platforms, I could take online classes at SUNY Erie as an 18-year-old college student even though I’m far away in South Korea with 13 hours of time difference. Also, not being able to move into Buffalo this semester, I followed ‘thebuffalonews’ on Instagram to contact the news of Buffalo. The stories from ‘thebuffalonews’ showed visual storytelling, using the picture-based Instagram. Face-to-face social meetings to chat have decreased and the usage of SNS continuously increased. SNS users started to increase rapidly during the pandemic. According to Techcrunch, WhatsApp usage has seen a 40% increase due to Covid-19. As you can see, the advantage of able to hear from acquaintances even if we don’t go out attracted others’ attention. SNS has showed its best value in the contactless society. For this semester, I’ve taken classes at SUNY Erie and contacted people in Buffalo through SNS and video platforms. Through these, I could communicate with the outside world without going out. During the pandemic, I would use the efficiency of SNS and video platforms as much as I can. But I hope the day will come when I can go to Buffalo to take classes and meet my friends face-to-face.

A Struggling Mother Joseph Galasso The sales submerged so I lose my pay, what will I do to support my young girl? The cloudy days are slow, time wastes away, The bills stack up high I fear I may hurl. “Mommy, oh mommy, I’m hungry I’m sad.” Today’s the first day we’ll starve with no food. I’m waiting and waiting, where is your dad? He left us for good and ruined her mood. Everything non-essential closes down. The pandemic starts to make people crazy. Now unemployment starts to sweep this town, nobody wants to work, they are so lazy. Perk of working from home, no rules or masks just distractions unrelated to tasks.

I Wish in the Gym of Your Heart —after Robley Wilson Caitlin Wells I wish in the gym of your heart you would let me be the treadmill where you accelerate my heart rate. I imagine the workers: It has been tough, but the masks make it worse and people have to wipe down the machines.

Quar.an.tine: Deborah Young Noun A state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious disease are placed. “many animals die in quarantine” Origin Italian Quaranta Forty Italian Quarantine Forty days Quarantine Mid-17th century Definitions from Oxford Languages QUARANTINE Beginning of pandemic sad and scared; not knowing what the future holds. Staying home, as not to catch this monster; isolation begins! Last day at school; and not comprehending yet. It stays on surfaces; it does not stay on surfaces. Wear a mask? Do not wear a mask. Stand six feet apart; but if you are vaccinated, three feet away. I cannot breathe; please wear a mask. Yay, they have a vaccine for this pandemic disease; however, way too soon. Government encourages the vaccine; I wonder why, for I think it is a tracking device. Get a vaccine; do not get a vaccine. Did you get symptoms; some get symptoms and feel like crap. Many people are still staying quarantined mostly the elderly. Cannot see our relatives, mom, sister, or brother; all isolated and away from family members. Ships started the quarantines; quaranta meaning forty Quarantina meaning forty days, the amount of time people on ships would have to quarantine before allowed to come ashore. Still staying in the house; only go out when important. At first you go stir crazy; then you get used to it. If you get the monster disease; quarantined for fourteen days. So many people working from home; most companies are going to run with that. It stays on surfaces; it does not stay on surfaces. Wear a mask; do not wear a mask. 95

Stand six feet apart; but if you are vaccinated, three feet away. Staying home for ever and ever; isolation starts creeping up.

Bullet in the Brain —after Tobias Wolff Alexander Reardon Anders rarely had good mornings, but today was especially worse. This added to his already existing temper, putting him in an even worse mood. He worked as a book critic and was known for his very meticulous reviews. He was never in the best of moods anyways, and this was reflected throughout his work at times. As Anders drove down the boulevard, he was paying more attention to his phone rather than driving the car safely. While he was on his phone, the car in front of him stopped suddenly to avoid hitting the deer crossing the street. If Anders didn't look up when he did, he would have crashed into the back of the Chevy Malibu in front of him. Frustrated at having to stop so suddenly, Anders beeped his horn at the car in front of him, unaware that there was a deer crossing. As he arrived at the bank, he realized that he left his umbrella at home. He noticed that the parking lot was full, meaning that there was going to be a long line inside. Walking into the bank he was soaked. As he looked around, the majority of people seemed to be dry which meant they didn’t forget their umbrellas. There were so many people in the bank that the noise level was a lot louder than it usually was. Anders muttered under his breath that “this was the last time I will come to the bank on a Tuesday morning.” A couple places before him in line stood two girls who were talking very loudly. Loud talking was one of Anders' pet peeves, especially when it was about nonsense. These girls were speaking in a way that made them sound very uneducated. What bothered Anders even more was that they were the type of people who wore their masks below their nose. They disregarded the actual purpose for the mask, but they continued to go off about how wearing a mask was pointless. One of the girls removed her mask to take a drink from her sparkly pink Starbucks cup. He found the cup to be just as obnoxious as her. He seemed to always find something negative in everyone. The girl continued to leave her mask under her chin, even though she had finished taking a drink. The other girl continued to wear hers under her nose. Anders found himself glaring at the girls with a look of disapproval. It was not hard to notice him staring, and the girl on the left with the long brown hair couldn't help but notice. “Do you need something?” asked the girl. “To start you two can put your four total combined brain cells together and figure out how to put your masks over your nose.” She stood there, dumbfounded that someone had the audacity to talk to her like that. “Oh no! Better watch out for the virus, it's going to get me,” her friend chimed in so sarcastically. This fueled Anders’ temper even more, he responded by saying, “Wow, I can’t stand talking to people as stupid as you two.” Before the two ladies had a chance to respond, the doors of the bank burst open. The sound was so loud it made it seem like the doors were flying off the hinges. Two tall and buff men entered dressed in all black with ski masks covering their faces. They started shouting for everyone to get on the ground or else they'll shoot. The two girls quickly dropped to the ground in front of Anders. They shook in fear as Anders remained standing unfazed by what was going on. The bank robbers made it over to the tellers in front of Anders. “At least they can wear a mask properly,” Anders said to the women. “Did I tell you to talk?” 97

“Just be quiet,” said the woman, but Anders could not help himself. Anders felt the barrel of the shotgun in his lower back. “Ski masks, kind of cliche don't you think?” said Anders.

Forgiveness Isaiah Wilson Your knee on my neck shows no life respect. Did you already know my life would end? You held it down without any regret. Breathless to the air, I can’t breathe within. The clock is ticking with no time to reset. The crowd screams and shouts while watching the sin. The color of my skin poses a threat. Hand cuffed and pinned to the ground I can’t win. The cry for momma was my last duet. I need to know where did this all begin Where you taught to be angry and upset. You must not have known my soul lives herein. My life will forever be left in your debt. But luckily for you God will descend.

Chickenpox Vaccine Jiangshan Yuan I still remember the day I suffered I was distracted by the sugar Mother brought me to the doctor acted like I was not her daughter Father went to pay for the dollar Nurse she was a beautiful hugger told me chicken pox was a horror She encouraged me to be a warrior Vaccine was ready Varicella was waiting Now Now I have a marker

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Essential Worker Erin O’Brien When somebody hears the phrase “essential worker,” what comes to mind? The real definition of an essential worker is “individuals who conduct a range of operations and services that are typically essential to continue critical infrastructure operations” (according to the U.S Department of Homeland Security). This definition does not give a true read on what an essential worker really is (especially in hard times during this pandemic). I’m confident many people agree with me when I say there are different degrees of jobs that fall under the umbrella that is labeled “essential workers.” To be more specific, there are two degrees. The higher degree of essential workers includes the jobs that our world simply cannot succeed without. Some examples would be fields such as the police force, firefighters, and healthcare workers. If you’re wondering why these are included ask yourself this; what happens if there are fires? How will sick/ injured people be treated (especially with COVID-19 being in play). How will crime be controlled? During this entire pandemic, my dad has fallen under the category of essential worker. As a police officer, he is required to go to work during any circumstance, he works on holidays such as Thanksgiving and even Christmas. This is because crime does not have days off no matter what goes on and this includes circumstances like the pandemic. This has been a privilege that my dad is an essential worker because many people were laid off during the pandemic and struggled financially. I am fortunate that my dad continued to work and put food on the table every day for me. Looking at the other side of essential workers, these are the fields that people would consider to be jobs that our world will be just fine if these people were not working. I say the following respectfully and I am not trying to belittle any of these jobs. I understand and acknowledge that it is good for these people who can still work for a paycheck and support themselves/ families, but I am confused as to why they are still labeled essential workers and go into work every day. A few examples of these jobs would be jobs such as fast-food restaurants, landscapers, and fitness centers. I am puzzled as to why these three fields are able to go to work every day in such dangerous times. I love my fast food, but I know I can live without it, and I think it is unsafe for those employees to be serving customers day to day and potentially exposing themselves. As for landscapers, my brother works as a landscaper and he loves doing it. If we’re being honest, do we really need our lawns and bushes to be trimmed neatly when COVID-19 is a threat to thousands of people? I love working out as much as the next person. In fact, it is very beneficial for our health to be working out at gyms. The problem is, I find it tough to argue that gyms can be labeled as essential when sweating on different types of equipment is a breeding ground for the coronavirus. For those reasons, that is why these jobs are some that fall into this degree of an essential worker. I truly hope that families are able to overcome financial struggles during these times of uncertainty. Unfortunately, there needs to be a fine line drawn for what jobs we really need and what jobs we can put on hold in order for our country to be the safest it can be. When we talk about essential workers, looking through it from the big picture shows that 101

there really are two different levels of the umbrella term “essential workers.” What do you think of when you hear the words essential worker?

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Frontline Worker Morressa Johnson Fearless Respected On the go Non Stop Time is of the essence Leadership Initiative N95 masks Emotional Weary Opportunity Rage Kind Experience Rollercoaster

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Breathe Corey Hendzlik So I have an idea … What idea? Breathe … you haven’t even heard it yet. Ok, what? Respiratory therapy, I want to go to school for it. Really? Where? When? Why? I want to help people again. It is really booming and needed right now. I just keep coming back to it. What do you think? We can talk about it. (deep breath) Ok. Good. I’ve thought about it. You should. But you have to do it now. The kids, the move, it is now or never. Second thought, I don’t think I can. What if I fail? How will we pay for it? How will we pay bills? Breathe. Can I take an ambulance shift this week? Do you have to? I would like to. What if you bring it home? What if the kids get it? What if they don’t give you the right gear? Breathe. I will strip down at the door. Shower first. Don’t say Hello to them. Don’t touch them. Don’t BREATHE on them. I won’t. My mask is fitted. It is my own. It is the best - N95. It doesn't matter. We really don’t know. It would be good for me to experience this since I am going back to school. I want to help people (breathe). Ok. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hey, Sister. How’s it going? (sigh) Terrifying. Heavy. Fear. Anxious. Alone. Dread. Unknown. One mask. One shield. Spray. Side by side with others but hidden behind gear. Frontline. 104

I don’t know how to save them. I don’t know how to care for them. … how to protect myself. … how to protect us. … how to keep our families safe. … how to get them to wear their masks. Death. Anger. Exhaustion. Stretched … thin … can’t breathe. (Deep Breath. Shoes off in the car. Straight to the shower. Scrubs on the floor, no … scrubs in the basket. This one not that one. And breathe … or cry … or both). It’s going OK, I guess? I gotta go. Love you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------What will I need to know going into this field, especially with the changes COVID is bringing about? Technology is always changing. Nothing is ever the same. That it is challenging and rewarding to help others, to save them, to help them … breathe. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------How are you feeling about your classes? Do you still want to do this? What about COVID, doesn’t it scare you? Now more than ever. It is needed. I can do this. Aren’t you worried about what you will bring home. It worries me. Breathe. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(sweaty) (heavy) (deep breath) (sleep) (pounding) (puking) (chills) (tight) (gasping) (throat, tickle … prick) You need to get tested. I can breathe fine. It’s just a cold. COVID-19 ... POSITIVE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hey, Brother? How are you feeling? We are doing ok. Feeling a lot better. Kids? A little run down but good. Breathing ok. Good. Lucky. Lucky. 105

Lucky. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hey, Sister … Miss you. Can’t wait to see you. Hug you. Until this is over for you. Stay Safe. Hold on to your camaraderie. Hold on to hope. Like you said, you’re not alone. Rest. Breathe. You might be just doing your job, just like I want to someday, but you … you are doing a job of a hero. Love you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keep Breathing.

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The Pandemic Project Vol. 2

Articles inside

Hendzlik, Corey, Breathe

Johnson, Morressa, Frontline Worker

Galasso, Joseph, A Struggling Mother

Oh, Hyun-A, Letter to the Editor: Contact during the Pandemic

What Is Essential?

Dawes, Louis, Bored, with Everything to Do

Czaja, Jordan, Object of the Year……………………………………………………………………………………32 Davis, Dondrae, A Face to Recognize

In the Pharmacy of Your Heart

Inluxay, Lana, Letter to the Editor: The New Normal

Scoccia, Gabriella, The Flight That Will Take Me There

Moslow, Lisa Wiley, The Year without an Office Party

JohnsonIII, Morris, Nurse Kerling, Caitlin, A Race for Place……………………………………………………………………………………85

Bindig, Ashley, Black-Hole Binary…………………………………………………………………………………83 Breckenridge, CO 2020

Ferguson, Jeremy, Hope Ascending

Spentz, LaVita J., The Chair……………………………………………………………………………………………21 Stewart, Seth, The Curse of Free Time

Caccamise, Isabella, Everlasting Imprisonment

Coghlan, Kristen, An Unforgettable Birthday

Sowinski, Tyler, New Hobbies

Randall, Lexi, I’ve Had Enough of Twenty-Twenty

Cordone, Roberto, Freedom

Butler, Rebecca, I Wish in the Nursing Home of Your Heart

Baez, Victor, The Window

Andrzejewski, Kayleigh, Alone

Riley, Mathea, Sturgeon Point

Abdallah, Jacob, Letter to the Editor: Eradicate the Penny

Robertson, Matthew, Baseball during Quarantine

Flores, Travis, The Great Pandemic

Alkhazraji, Huda, Corona Snail

Green, Keri, The Presence of Time Greco, Michael, March 13th 2020.……………………………………………………………………………………6

Castro, Diosmaries, Locked in Cochrain, Pierce, Mask…………………………………………………………………………………………………33

Toilet Paper Shaban, Bizhan, Somebody……………………………………………………………………………………………13 Siddique, Mohammad, Mask…………………………………………………………………………………………12

Sorrentino, Samantha, The Mask

Hens, Liberty, Groundhog Day

Martin, Cole, Mask

Student

Campbell, Jennifer, About the Two Felled Adirondack Chairs Frozen on the Patio

Mattos, Victoria, When Will the End Come?

Pullara, Victoria, The Mask……………………………………………………………………………………………37 Radecki, Noah, Our Journey

Solis-Sanchez, Gaetano, Torn Masquerade

Stockman, Kristin, 2020

Rahman, Afsana, Procession of Death

Falbo, Amber, I Am Over This