I found my call of duty
inside your warzone
after leaving my pressurized cabin
and dropping in randomly
I started collecting money and items as fast as I could
to match the competition’s capability.

Everyone’s an enemy, everyone is hostile
I fear them and the weapons they’ll use on me
barraging me with dragon’s breath shotgun blasts
to put me down quickly
or silently sniping from far away
so I can’t defend myself.

The only way I can survive is staying in your circle
which keeps moving away from me
so I sprint through the fields and forests
making my way through already looted homes
hoping no one takes advantage of my vulnerability
racing to your circle before I suffocate.

Once I finally get to your circle I realize it’s too small to hide in
because everyone is so close together
I must engage them before they attack me
but they all lay siege to the small shack I’m trapped in
lobbing grenades and firing at me
I can’t even poke my head out.

So I stay inside
donning my gas mask
letting the circle overtake them and pick them off one by one
as I wait inside anxiously worried someone may try to join me
but eventually they’re all gone and I’m the only one left
and in that moment I have achieved victory royale.

I wanna be held

I wanna be loved

But all I get is silence

And falling stars crashing to the surface

The night falls...
Do you hear all the different calls?
There flies the owl...
But I follow the wolf's howl...
I can already hear it louder than before...
There he stands, lonely and poor...
But still, head high as he looks me up and down...
Strong and proud he has grown...
Even though he looks fierce and scary...
I'm not scared by how he is, big and hairy...
I know he is loyal and true...
I don't always know what he'll do...
He has disappeared, many a time, nights and days...
It's almost like a game he plays...
But I end up hearing the familiar yelp...
Then, I'll always answer his call for help...
Sometimes it's a howl of loneliness or power...
Rising high above any other tower...

You swear you really mean it
I'm pretty sure you don't
Too often I have let you slide
Counting on the fact you won't

I've asked you to try my shoes on
You don't hear a word I say
Too busy ranting while you stomp
Storming the opposite way

I'll succeed with or without your help
Slowly dying with stubborn pride
Opinions don't control me anymore
Or cut me inside

I do not care if you revoke support
You'll be my Mama no matter what
Is it hard to accept me for who I am?
Hiding behind a door tightly shut

It is tiring attempting to make you proud
Sad thing to see you cry
I disappear for I can't bear your tears
Unable to handle the disappointment in your eyes

A long time ago was the reason you smiled
Old photograph serves as proof
Held me through the years
Held me down
Handed out name slurred with *****

Now we do not even sit down to eat dinner
On steps I lay my dreams
A broken home empty of potential
Collecting on dusty beams

Drinking from your water bottle
That's not what's actually inside
Wind tipping you off balance
Alone as guilt you hide

At grey clouds I shudder
Foundation of our fears
Still true to trust and time
Detached demeanor clears

Wish I had courage to call you out
Call your bluff
Admit I know
When you tell me to get out
You really mean "please do not go"

Thank you Corona,
For the awakening call to humanity that was lost in the midst of our busy lives!

Thank you Corona,
For exposing our weakness and vulnerability as human beings, through the power of your invisibility!

Thank you Corona,
For showing us that we are all equal under rule, regardless of age, ***, race, or religion!

Thank you Corona,
For reminding us of the forgotten heroes in the field of healthcare, who are fighting in the front lines, risking their lives to save others.

Thank you Corona,
For teaching a valuable lesson, that by standing together in our fight we can defeat  you under a banner of kindness, love, and humanity!

Hussein Dekmak