A World Transformed

 

In the constellation of rare commodities

chemicals with forbidden mind-altering

and/or protective properties vastly outrank

such traditional possessions that focus the mind

of the wealthy on acquisition such that

the object is to own sumptuous estates

luxury vehicles, gold and diamonds all

worthless when threatened by a pandemic

whose morbid ferocity strikes fear in the

minds of its human targets. Collegial nations

suddenly become competitors allocating to

themselves the biomedical formulae to rescue

their populations from the ruinous grip of the

pathogen from which some find solace in

other drugs creating the double dilemma of

death-by-chemical-choice and the financially

well-endowed use their influence to create the

never-failing aura of exceptionalism able and

willing to prioritize their lives over the meekly

unavailing awaiting rescue from the dire suspense

of fear and uncertainty in a world suddenly still

with the expectation of miraculous rescue.