By Marilyn Kallet

Sleep, little one,

Mama has washed her hands.

Daddy won’t touch his face

Again. We will keep you

From harm

With love and antibacterial

Wipes. We’ll scrub

Everything twice.

Mommy will keep Daddy happy

With her tongue. Wait,

That’s a different poem!

Mommy will sing you a

Powerful, germ-free lullaby.

Sleep, little one,

The President is an idiot,

But you will grow up

To be smart,

Empowered,

Fearless.

And by then

There will be a vaccine

And a Democrat.

Marilyn Kallet is Knoxville Poet Laureate. She has published 18 books, including How Our Bodies Learned, poetry from Black Widow Press.