Traditional Festive Rituals Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Traditional and festive rituals,
Are difficult not to celebrate.
They are a way of life.
Regardless of one's ethnic heritage.
Or where on God's created Earth they live.
Yet...
No plans for a virus causing pandemic.
No plans to anticipate witnessing,
Friends, family members, neighbors...
Or so many millions of unknown others,
Taken away by sudden death.

And...
As heartbreaking as the reality,
Of this effective life taking truth may be.
We still owe it to ourselves,
To be thoughtful, caring and feeling blessed.
With a clear consciousness to accept,
A time has come for everyone to listen.
And pay undivided attention.
Done to understand it understood.
As much as we love,
Our traditional and festival rituals...
There may be one or two we hate to miss.

However...
To miss them to get over it.
Is much easier to take,
Than insisting we celebrate...
Traditional rituals.
With the ones we love,
Still healthy and living.
Although...
Risking their lives and ours too!
Ignoring the reality,
Of a pandemic threatening death.
Or the truth of it.
Awaiting to silence,
And take away someone's breath.
Confessing a too late ignorance expressed.

What is it more to be desired?
Distance to keep it,
And celebrating staying safe?
Or a togetherness to have that our way.
Watching someone loved,
Pass to the next stage.
To not take warnings serious!
Because we believe,
Entitlements to have them...
Gives us the right to do as we please.