​At All Costs

By Cindion Huang ’25

“Pandemic prevention at all costs.”
 
We crumble through white lies,
believe in falsehood;
oblivious but deeply immersed in
deceptions that they have created --
 
about us.
 
“Pandemic prevention at all costs.”
 
Under their power,
our voices mouthed nothing
but useless cacophonies, scattered through the silent air
as they gradually erase our thoughts --
 
with a single tear.
 
“Pandemic prevention at all costs.”
 
Still echoes,
When we fall and crash
into the abyss on the tour bus
that was supposed to take us to quarantine camps;
When she watches as her infant dies of miscarriage
in front of the hospital gate because she’d have to test negative first;
When she gets beaten up by drunk, mighty men just because she said no to
their ruthless harassment; when he gets aggressively arrested for
grocery shopping under lockdowns; when we’re threatened
by armed forces to stay inside our houses;
 
When every inch and fraction of freedom was suppressed;
When all COVID-related posts were banned;
 
When we are muted;
When we are silenced;
When we die --
 
by being alive.
 
“Pandemic prevention at all costs.”
 
Exactly,
what they really mean is:
 
We are the cost.