The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2020

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2020 57 Corona Haikus By Sylbeth Kennedy ■ Shenyang ’Bye, last month’s issues! There’s a new virus in town Bringing us all down A zombie movie A sense of dread in the air Where’s everybody? It’s a whole new world One filledwith fear and panic I don’t like the news There’s tunnel vision Thinking only viruses And not other things I wish the fireworks’ Loud noises and bright colors Could fight the virus It is spreading fast Along with the ignorance Neither fight easy Social distancing Not for the shy anymore! It’s doctor-approved Masks for everyone But not fun Halloween ones This is scarier The unmasked people Shock me with their nakedness Feels too intimate Unmasked elderly Have lived through horrible times No virus scares them My tones are bu hao And speaking throughmy clothmask Ain’t helping a bit Watching TV ads Seeing what was filmed before People with people Nothing seems to change Days blend into each other I feel I’m drifting My Shenyang? Spit globs And scooters on the sidewalk I miss it all now Fit February Was off to a horrid start But it’s not my fault Is it wrong to think About cheap tickets, hotels Once it all calms down? It is all too much I want to play ostrich And ignore the news We are home schooling Supplies are non-essential? The kids need paper! My new work outfit Is all about comfy pants Leggings and PJs Own your undyed hair On trend is COVID color Don’t cover grey roots A blue-skied Shenyang It’s an impossible dream! Hope for the future Spring is for rebirth But now, all we hear is death Bad seasonal start Being resilient Is taking care of yourself While you’re freaking out Welcome back, heroes! Buses of doctors, nurses Who helped in Wuhan My happiest time Was cheering for the returned Combated COVID The unseen people Deep-fry cooks and janitors Have become heroes Find joy in small things Clean air, working internet Seek your happiness So many hashtags Alone Together, All In These Uncertain Times We are together No matter where we live now Always in our hearts Sylbeth Kennedy is an FSO serving in Shenyang. She has served previously in Lima, Osaka-Kobe, Beirut and Seoul. She joined the Foreign Service after teaching in a Japanese exchange and teaching program for five years. An active traveler, she has been to all seven continents and 104 countries. She stayed at post when Mission China went on ordered departure in January and hopes her colleagues can return soon. “We’re thinking of you at this time”—a sign with safety measures workers and customers must follow at a tea shop. In front of a jewelry store, this ad says “Beauty has no fear,” or as the author calls it, “Love in the Time of Corona.” SYLBETHKENNEDY SYLBETHKENNEDY