Brazilian Zika Virus

I wanted to write my reflective expression on this disaster as a poem to a survivor, but I ended up sounding more like I had been the survivor myself. I think this happened because of the intense relatedness and closeness that I felt to this event. This happened in a country that I also call home, and learning so much more about this disaster broke my heart. I had not known the extent of the trauma and it saddens me to realize that I only just now am learning more about this. My art’s reflective expression turned more into a survivor’s narrative because I now do believe I am a survivor of the pain that was inflicted in Mexico, despite of geographical distances.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03561/zika-virus-baby-ki_3561556k.jpg

Waiting, For What?

(a poem based on the writing of Dina Maron)

by: W.B.

A leaf has fallen I know you want

in our path, to see us

a sign that time I know you want

has past. your life.

Yet, I’m frozen I shudder thinking

in the place maybe,

and on the day all you’ll know

we laughed. is this world’s strife.

We laughed about You won’t know

your little nose about the longing,

and what your sounds about our joys,

would be. or of our tears.

We knew you’d have You will only be

my light brown eyes just breathing

and daddy’s funny feet. and just passing through

We planned the place, the years.

the palms and sun, I am broken,

setting on our skin. you’re so near me.

We loved you as We’re so close

a thought to little Nick

and soon we’d love you I won’t forgive

from within. the warm night’s sun

that held me

to be pricked.

In response to W. B.’s reflections, student D. G. wrote:

This presentation was extremely difficult for me to listen to. Since I became a mother, intensity relating to children deeply frightens and disturbs me. Listening to how merely one mosquito bite could infect a pregnant mother, and then cause such severe health ramifications truly terrifies me, and I felt a shaky feeling in my body during the entire presentation. Winnie’s poem that she wrote about the British couple who became infected while on their Baby Moon also hit close to home. While I was pregnant with my daughter, we also went on a Baby Moon, and I can only imagine how absolutely devastating their experience must have been. I think that story in particular effected me because I could easily relate to their experience of traveling to Brazil for a special vacation, with hopes and dreams of a healthy baby on the horizon. My heart truly aches for every family who had to endure such trauma from this virus.

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