400,000

Image: Annemarie Mountjoy

I’ve lost my sense of taste and smell

They can’t smell or taste

It’s hard to breathe with a mask on

They no longer breathe

I didn’t celebrate my birthday

They have no more birthdays

I can’t get the vaccine

The vaccine came too late

I’m tired of being inside, I want to go outside

They’re outside — inside the earth

I seem to be sleepy all the time

They sleep forever

And must be remembered forever

Rest in Peace

Read more by Ada Mark Strausberg.