Call it cynicism
or a side effect
of listening to too many
old punk records
but I never really had faith
in institutions or the government.

Call it naïveté
or a side effect
of listening to too many
old punk records
but I used to really have faith
in my comrades and friends.

In the first year
of the pandemic
I lost a job.

In the second year
of the pandemic
I lost time.

In the third year
of the pandemic
I lost my health.

In the fourth year
of the pandemic
I am losing hope.