The tiny pangolin from Africa
Showed up sometimes
In a wet-meat market in Wuhan.
Men fancied its wee scales,
Which sparkled like sequins.
Its meat they found a treat.
Beside the dogs, cats, fish and birds,
Mysterious medical remedies and cures,
It was just a morsel, an obscure meat.
Unknown to the outside world.
One day this pangolin had met a bat,
Who passed on its special germ.
‘Twas the COVID-19 virus, akin to SARS.
This pangolin left the market to become a snack,
Or perhaps a cure.
Releasing to Wuhan, then on to China
Its virus, causing panic and fear.
Helped by trains, ships and planes, coughs, sneezes and crowds,
The germ passed through countries, cities, neighborhoods too,
Swiftly it spread on silent wings.
Throughout the world.
Transportation stopped; borders were closed.
Businesses shut down, hospitals full,
People were quarantined, others stayed home.
The stock market fell, the economy stricken.
Schools were closed, all events canceled.
Uncertain and anxious, everyone frightened.
How long would they have to stay home?
How would the mortgage, the rent be paid?
No one knew when it would end.
All from one tiny pangolin, obscure and unknown,
Who loosed a strange germ that flew all about.
And thus the cry of the pangolin was heard
Throughout the world.
