Staffing Shortages

Staffing shortages in a covidious time
Supply chain snafus, empty shelves and long lines
Rising positivity rates were how we bore witness
For our streets were paved with discarded rapid tests

Inboxes flooded with statements
   explaining the difficult decisions
Structural adjustments:
   "We make every effort to minimize disruption"
"The increase in cases
   created an impact on essential services around the country"
"Our staffing levels are being affected
   by those who are either sick or in self-quarantine"

While sirens were testaments to the ebb and flow of capacity
Partners in health bemoaned the limited testing availability
We were living in an interminable era of incalculable loss
Even as we asked the obvious, what paradise have we lost?

Staffing Shortage, a playlist

A soundtrack for this note (spotify version)

• Man Shortage by Lovindeer
• Inflation Calypso by E.T. Mensah & the Tempos
• Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode
• Got to be Enough by Con Funk Shun
• Never Enough by Groove Theory
• Shortage by Dave Hollister

After Omicron BA.1

This internal displacement is part of a series: In a covidious time

File under: culture, observation, coronavirus, pandemic, economics, covidious, poetry, toli

Writing log: January 16, 2022