Flashing Neon Signs Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Minds are closing in.
And beginning to 'max' out.
Shutting down from a faith,
To keep it.
Losing once credible,
Those impressions to have made.

Minds are finding,
Themselves becoming maxed out.
Limited to restrictions.
No one perceived to believe,
In these days...
Of a spreading pandemic.
Would ever change their ways,
To bring about and possible remain.
Giving everyone time to evaluate,
The value of life.
Without things to chase.
Or truth to leave behind in haste.

No one planned or prepared,
For a virus to come.
Effective and stunning.
With no exit to run forward.
Or backward to overcome.
And no one expected,
This kind of shared grief.
On doorsteps to discover it,
Everywhere providing...
Panic and not relief.

Minds are closing in.
And beginning to 'max' out.
Shutting down from a faith to keep it.
The rich, the poor.
And those in the middle,
Unable to afford...
Keeping up adored pretensions.

Some are heard to say,
'This is an act of God'.
A God who gave them,
The ability to do and choose...
Whatever they wished with consciousness.
And also to ignore if they chose that too!
The repeated messages to them sent.
Delivered in flashing neon signs.
Not meant to entertain.
Offend or annoy.
But pay undivided attention to them.