A Poem for the CDC: ‘Unsettled’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society February 22, 2022 Culture, Poetry 40 Comments . Unsettled written upon reading of the CDC refusing to publish data on booster effectiveness I’m niggled and nettled. The science is settled __Yet fails to make sense or equate. My mind is left addled when medicine peddled __And pushed is not up for debate. I crave clear conclusions not based on illusions— __I need understandable tacks. I’m done with delusions—the experts’ effusions __That batter and bastardize facts. New variants spite us. The dud boosters blight us __And multiple fit guys are cursed With myocarditis. Do shots aim to smite us? __It’s time to wise up to the worst. I’ll get no relief from the dogged belief __That the science is saintly and true When self-declared chiefs are the spreaders of grief __With tall tales told to terrify you. They needle and muzzle. They wheedle and puzzle. __They litter all logic with trash. They mask and they muddle and double the trouble __With tyrants who ply them with cash. Why should I trust science that’s formed an alliance __With slippery hacks fueled by greed? I’ll stand in defiance. There’ll be no compliance __Till quacks are compelled to secede. Bigwigs and Big Pharma are set up to garner __A fortune at virtue’s expense. They’ll charm ya then harm ya. I’m praying for karma— __They’ll pay for each vile offense… The snide will not hide when the word ‘genocide’ __Leaves the lips of those wracked with despair. The scars far and wide carved by souls who have died __Will convict the cons claiming to care. It’s time to ask why the dictators deny __People’s access to data and proof… Perhaps we won’t buy every lucrative lie __If we cast a fine eye on the truth. . . Susan Jarvis Bryant has poetry published on Lighten Up Online, Snakeskin, Light, Sparks of Calliope, and Expansive Poetry Online. She also has poetry published in TRINACRIA, Beth Houston’s Extreme Formal Poems anthology, and in Openings (anthologies of poems by Open University Poets in the UK). Susan is the winner of the 2020 International SCP Poetry Competition, and has been nominated for the 2022 Pushcart Prize. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 40 Responses Norma Okun February 22, 2022 Well said. If motive be the cause they brought the plague to ruin humanity. No solution will come from the evil doers. They destroyed life. They pulverized space and conquered health. We are no longer healthier, no matter what other solutions they pretend to fix humanity with. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you, Norma. You make an excellent point. Yet, sadly, no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary, there are those who think the corrupt governments of this world are the answer to all ills. Reply Russel Winick February 22, 2022 This is pure, classic SJB here! Just fabulous! Nobody else could have written this! It’s terrific regardless of one’s feelings about the underlying issues. Marvelously done! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you very much, Russel! Your words have made me smile. I have huge fun writing poetry regardless of the subject matter… I’m thrilled that shines through. Reply Cheryl Corey February 22, 2022 Terrific word play. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you very much, Cheryl. Reply Brian Yapko February 22, 2022 Susan, this is a perfect combo platter of a deadly serious subject presented with a wry Gilbert & Sullivan wit. In fact, I’m amusing myself by reciting your poem to the tune of “I’m Called Little Buttercup” and it works splendidly. Frankly, if Gilbert were alive today he would excoriate the CDC — much as you have done. I agree that the word play is exceptional — your use of internal rhyme brilliantly shows your skill and control as the poem’s speaker but it is also suggestive of the convoluted illogic and circular reasoning of so much of the “advice” we are given. “Spite us/blight us/myocarditis/smite us” is a rhyme for the ages. “Needle and muzzle – Wheedle and puzzle” is a sharp set of rhymes as well. Sometimes, Susan, it seems like your poetry allows us to look at the world through a funhouse mirror. The scary thing is, when we actually look carefully, we see that is no distortion. You have told it the way it is. That’s a rare gift. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Brian, what a shining gem of a comment that has my heart singing to the tune of a fine musical and my thoughts wandering through a hall of funhouse mirrors. I am thrilled to be able to deliver such dire subject matter in a way that brings on a bout of toe-tapping and sniggering before my nightmare of a message rises to the fore and bares its teeth. In these malevolent days of mayhem and misery bad news should be delivered as painlessly as possible… perhaps I should lead the way. 😉 Brian, thank you very much! Reply Sally Cook February 22, 2022 Yess, yes YES !! Per usual, the fun you have with words spills over and infects your readers. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Dearest Sally, I am thrilled at the thought of my words spilling a little fun at your doorstep. We could all do with a splash of joy in our world these days. Thank you very much for dropping by. Reply Cynthia Erlandson February 22, 2022 Susan, you continue as Queen of alliteration and internal rhyme, as well as telling important truths in humorous ways! I never would have imagined trying to find rhymes for “myocarditis”. 🙂 Pharma/garner/karma, and science/alliance/defiance/compliance are both fun, and really work! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Cynthia, thank you very much! I love my new title and I’m wearing my crown with pride. Reply Julian D. Woodruff February 22, 2022 Susan, Imagine the nightmare of Biden’s re-election. Then imagine Biden’s nightmare when he learns YOU will be the poet reading at his inauguration! How far would Joe run? Reply Jack DesBois February 22, 2022 I usually try not to say mean things about people on the internet, even evil people – but imagine Joe Biden trying to recite this poem. Genius, Susan! The extra internal rhyme with “fine eye” is an especially nice little touch to finish off this oh-so-dead subject. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Jack, thank you for casting your own fine eye over those extra touches in my poem, and appreciating them. As for Joe Biden reading my poem, I fear that would be an entertaining step too far… a dog-faced pony soldier may have to trot in to save the day. Cheryl Corey February 23, 2022 If JB tried to recite this poem, not only would it be word salad, it would be a chopped word salad. Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Julian, I would relish the prospect. What a boundless source of inspiration Biden is. I have wild and wondrous words begging to soar above boneheads to shine in the realms of those who will guffaw in the blank face of banality… you are absolutely right – it would be Biden’s worst nightmare. I am sniggering at the mere thought. Thank you! Reply Anna J. Arredondo February 23, 2022 Amen. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you, Anna. Reply jd February 23, 2022 Enjoyed reading and of course, agree with all of the above. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 I’m glad you enjoyed reading this, jd. Thank you for your kind comment… I’m encouraged to continue highlighting heinous folly with a dose of jolly. Reply Jeff Eardley February 23, 2022 Susan, I know that Brian is currently singing his own version as am I to that lovely old tune, “Burlington Bertie from Bow.” This is a joy to read and thank you for highlighting the disturbing mistrust of authority that is the hallmark of your great nation. Nice to see a return of the “Helicap” in the picture. Perhaps you could translate into Russian and email to that nice Mr Putin who could do with a change of bedtime reading. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you, Jeff. I’ll go with “Burlington Bertie from Bow.” Just imagine how disastrous this world would be without the Helicap… it’s far more liberating than any government. I hope you didn’t suffer too badly during Storm Eunice… I have a feeling she blew over from Putin’s bedroom… he really does need a good book to read. He’s meddling in all sorts. 😉 Reply Joseph S. Salemi February 23, 2022 “Disturbing mistrust of authority”? Huh? Come again, please? I guess Europeans can’t help being slaves of Bureaucracy and Imperial Diktats. After all, they are the spiritual children of Henry VIII, Cromwell, Louis XIV, Robespierre, Napoleon, Metternich, Bismarck, Lenin, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and all the countless rest of those wonderful and dependable authorities. Maybe Eardley should tell us which authorities we are wrongfully mistrusting. Reply Jeff Eardley February 23, 2022 Mr Salemi, I apologise for the inclusion of “disturbing.” I don’t know how that slipped in. I knew that typing whilst sporting a Helicap with flat batteries would be problematic. Thank you for the rap on the knuckles and for your list of favourite Uncles although I must admit to having a blank on Metternich. Was he a bad guy? Joseph S. Salemi February 23, 2022 Not too bad. He helped establish a European-wide peace that lasted for a century, and which laid the framework for worldwide European hegemony (two very good things, in my opinion). But he was a committed absolutist in his political views. Norma Pain February 23, 2022 ‘Heinous folly with a dose of jolly’ describes this poem perfectly. Susan, your inexhaustible use of words, rhythm and rhyme are mind-boggling to me. Thank you for this truthful and entertaining poem. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you very much, Norma. You are a connoisseur of ‘jolly’, so your lovely comment has me grinning from ear to ear. Reply Paul Freeman February 23, 2022 The wordplay made the poem sound like a militant / protest rap song. Thanks for the read, Susan. Reply Mike Bryant February 23, 2022 Hmmm… “militant / protest rap” OK… I can see the protest part… think, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary” and don’t forget Jack Des Bois. Rap? Sure, I would say that plenty of the Rap artists are protesting one thing or another. But MILITANT ????? Really, Paul? I think Brian had it about right. I’d say the poem is Woodie Guthrie meets Gilbert & Sullivan. Susan is having a PG Tips with me. She’s sitting here in her slippers… no jack boots in sight. Jeff said that we Americans have a disturbing distrust of authority. I’m sure that you agree with him. Strangely enough that is exactly what King George III thought. If you’d like to know why, just read our Declaration of Independence. It’s easy enough to find. I think the better question is, “Why would ANYONE trust the authorities?” Susan has NOT led a cavalry charge against unarmed civilians and an old lady with a Zimmer frame. The good news, Paul, is that you managed to get a rise out of me again. That is called “trolling,” just so you know. Reply Mike Bryant February 23, 2022 I just read the beautiful poem again and I can’t find where it says, “Pigs in a blanket, fry ‘em like bacon.” C.B. Anderson February 23, 2022 You are so good at hitting the nail on the head, Susan, that I almost think you should have been a carpenter. I think you will love this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCCrjo6V8_4 You never fail to impress, and please do not read anything in front of our Resident — the penalty for injuring the brain-dead head of State is just too severe. Limit your truth-telling to this and other safe sites. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you very much for this, C.B. You’re right, I love the song. My father was great at carpentry. As a child I spent a lot of time watching in wonder. I adore the smell of sawdust. I promise not to read anything in front of our Resident, but my truth-telling is already out there and is gaining momentum… my brain lost to my conscience, I’m afraid. Reply Jeff Eardley February 24, 2022 CB, can I thank you so much for the link to this wonderful song. I have long been a bluegrass fan since Flatt and Scruggs and the Kentucky Colonels, but these guys are just so good. Reply David Watt February 24, 2022 Susan, you are able to wrap a distasteful dish in such a way that it presents as fine cuisine. The lies and misinformation are certainly distasteful, yet your abundant rhyme and rhythm work their magic. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 25, 2022 Thank you, David. I have served this dish to people that have thrown it back in my face (people I love and care for). No matter how palatable or distasteful, I’m still gonna serve it. Am I an idiot or a sage? Only time will tell. Reply Margaret Coats February 25, 2022 “The scars far and wide carved by souls who have died” makes me think of a thin, tearful girl with a face of indescribable grief. She couldn’t move to bring up the Valentine bouquet she was clutching, and put it on the casket of a young man for whose death there was no warning and no reason. Sage Susan, you have spoken for her and hundreds of thousands of others. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 25, 2022 Margaret, I am honored to have done so. My heart breaks for those who have suffered at the hand of evil and I will not stop shouting out in the name of justice until this heartbreaking tide turns. The thin, tearful girl has me right by her side and my thoughts and prayers are with her. May God bless her. Reply David Whippman March 1, 2022 Clever stuff Susan. Throughout the Covid saga, I’ve been frustrated at how few simple yet relevant questions (eg how many are dying with covid as opposed to from covid?) are asked. Thank goodness that in the UK – I don’t know about the USA – we are returning to some kind of normality. Let’s hope your poem is the epitaph for the group insanity. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 2, 2022 Thank you for this, David. I’m very glad to hear the UK is returning to some kind of normality. We’ve had the appearance of ‘normality’ here in Texas for some time… if you turn a blind eye to babies being experimented on, kids being jabbed, not being able to travel unless you get a booster, the medical kidnappings in hospitals that receive financial reward for intubating Covid patients that die as a result, treatments being withheld, and businesses being ruined because of draconian regulations… I fear we’re at a stage where we’ll comply with anything the government suggests for fear of having ‘normality’ removed once again – that’s Texas and I fear the rest of the Western World… It reminds me of a scene from that book no one’s taking any notice of – how many fingers am I holding up? Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Norma Okun February 22, 2022 Well said. If motive be the cause they brought the plague to ruin humanity. No solution will come from the evil doers. They destroyed life. They pulverized space and conquered health. We are no longer healthier, no matter what other solutions they pretend to fix humanity with. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you, Norma. You make an excellent point. Yet, sadly, no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary, there are those who think the corrupt governments of this world are the answer to all ills. Reply
Russel Winick February 22, 2022 This is pure, classic SJB here! Just fabulous! Nobody else could have written this! It’s terrific regardless of one’s feelings about the underlying issues. Marvelously done! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you very much, Russel! Your words have made me smile. I have huge fun writing poetry regardless of the subject matter… I’m thrilled that shines through. Reply
Brian Yapko February 22, 2022 Susan, this is a perfect combo platter of a deadly serious subject presented with a wry Gilbert & Sullivan wit. In fact, I’m amusing myself by reciting your poem to the tune of “I’m Called Little Buttercup” and it works splendidly. Frankly, if Gilbert were alive today he would excoriate the CDC — much as you have done. I agree that the word play is exceptional — your use of internal rhyme brilliantly shows your skill and control as the poem’s speaker but it is also suggestive of the convoluted illogic and circular reasoning of so much of the “advice” we are given. “Spite us/blight us/myocarditis/smite us” is a rhyme for the ages. “Needle and muzzle – Wheedle and puzzle” is a sharp set of rhymes as well. Sometimes, Susan, it seems like your poetry allows us to look at the world through a funhouse mirror. The scary thing is, when we actually look carefully, we see that is no distortion. You have told it the way it is. That’s a rare gift. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Brian, what a shining gem of a comment that has my heart singing to the tune of a fine musical and my thoughts wandering through a hall of funhouse mirrors. I am thrilled to be able to deliver such dire subject matter in a way that brings on a bout of toe-tapping and sniggering before my nightmare of a message rises to the fore and bares its teeth. In these malevolent days of mayhem and misery bad news should be delivered as painlessly as possible… perhaps I should lead the way. 😉 Brian, thank you very much! Reply
Sally Cook February 22, 2022 Yess, yes YES !! Per usual, the fun you have with words spills over and infects your readers. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Dearest Sally, I am thrilled at the thought of my words spilling a little fun at your doorstep. We could all do with a splash of joy in our world these days. Thank you very much for dropping by. Reply
Cynthia Erlandson February 22, 2022 Susan, you continue as Queen of alliteration and internal rhyme, as well as telling important truths in humorous ways! I never would have imagined trying to find rhymes for “myocarditis”. 🙂 Pharma/garner/karma, and science/alliance/defiance/compliance are both fun, and really work! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Cynthia, thank you very much! I love my new title and I’m wearing my crown with pride. Reply
Julian D. Woodruff February 22, 2022 Susan, Imagine the nightmare of Biden’s re-election. Then imagine Biden’s nightmare when he learns YOU will be the poet reading at his inauguration! How far would Joe run? Reply
Jack DesBois February 22, 2022 I usually try not to say mean things about people on the internet, even evil people – but imagine Joe Biden trying to recite this poem. Genius, Susan! The extra internal rhyme with “fine eye” is an especially nice little touch to finish off this oh-so-dead subject. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Jack, thank you for casting your own fine eye over those extra touches in my poem, and appreciating them. As for Joe Biden reading my poem, I fear that would be an entertaining step too far… a dog-faced pony soldier may have to trot in to save the day.
Cheryl Corey February 23, 2022 If JB tried to recite this poem, not only would it be word salad, it would be a chopped word salad.
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Julian, I would relish the prospect. What a boundless source of inspiration Biden is. I have wild and wondrous words begging to soar above boneheads to shine in the realms of those who will guffaw in the blank face of banality… you are absolutely right – it would be Biden’s worst nightmare. I am sniggering at the mere thought. Thank you! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 I’m glad you enjoyed reading this, jd. Thank you for your kind comment… I’m encouraged to continue highlighting heinous folly with a dose of jolly. Reply
Jeff Eardley February 23, 2022 Susan, I know that Brian is currently singing his own version as am I to that lovely old tune, “Burlington Bertie from Bow.” This is a joy to read and thank you for highlighting the disturbing mistrust of authority that is the hallmark of your great nation. Nice to see a return of the “Helicap” in the picture. Perhaps you could translate into Russian and email to that nice Mr Putin who could do with a change of bedtime reading. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you, Jeff. I’ll go with “Burlington Bertie from Bow.” Just imagine how disastrous this world would be without the Helicap… it’s far more liberating than any government. I hope you didn’t suffer too badly during Storm Eunice… I have a feeling she blew over from Putin’s bedroom… he really does need a good book to read. He’s meddling in all sorts. 😉 Reply
Joseph S. Salemi February 23, 2022 “Disturbing mistrust of authority”? Huh? Come again, please? I guess Europeans can’t help being slaves of Bureaucracy and Imperial Diktats. After all, they are the spiritual children of Henry VIII, Cromwell, Louis XIV, Robespierre, Napoleon, Metternich, Bismarck, Lenin, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and all the countless rest of those wonderful and dependable authorities. Maybe Eardley should tell us which authorities we are wrongfully mistrusting. Reply
Jeff Eardley February 23, 2022 Mr Salemi, I apologise for the inclusion of “disturbing.” I don’t know how that slipped in. I knew that typing whilst sporting a Helicap with flat batteries would be problematic. Thank you for the rap on the knuckles and for your list of favourite Uncles although I must admit to having a blank on Metternich. Was he a bad guy?
Joseph S. Salemi February 23, 2022 Not too bad. He helped establish a European-wide peace that lasted for a century, and which laid the framework for worldwide European hegemony (two very good things, in my opinion). But he was a committed absolutist in his political views.
Norma Pain February 23, 2022 ‘Heinous folly with a dose of jolly’ describes this poem perfectly. Susan, your inexhaustible use of words, rhythm and rhyme are mind-boggling to me. Thank you for this truthful and entertaining poem. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you very much, Norma. You are a connoisseur of ‘jolly’, so your lovely comment has me grinning from ear to ear. Reply
Paul Freeman February 23, 2022 The wordplay made the poem sound like a militant / protest rap song. Thanks for the read, Susan. Reply
Mike Bryant February 23, 2022 Hmmm… “militant / protest rap” OK… I can see the protest part… think, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary” and don’t forget Jack Des Bois. Rap? Sure, I would say that plenty of the Rap artists are protesting one thing or another. But MILITANT ????? Really, Paul? I think Brian had it about right. I’d say the poem is Woodie Guthrie meets Gilbert & Sullivan. Susan is having a PG Tips with me. She’s sitting here in her slippers… no jack boots in sight. Jeff said that we Americans have a disturbing distrust of authority. I’m sure that you agree with him. Strangely enough that is exactly what King George III thought. If you’d like to know why, just read our Declaration of Independence. It’s easy enough to find. I think the better question is, “Why would ANYONE trust the authorities?” Susan has NOT led a cavalry charge against unarmed civilians and an old lady with a Zimmer frame. The good news, Paul, is that you managed to get a rise out of me again. That is called “trolling,” just so you know. Reply
Mike Bryant February 23, 2022 I just read the beautiful poem again and I can’t find where it says, “Pigs in a blanket, fry ‘em like bacon.”
C.B. Anderson February 23, 2022 You are so good at hitting the nail on the head, Susan, that I almost think you should have been a carpenter. I think you will love this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCCrjo6V8_4 You never fail to impress, and please do not read anything in front of our Resident — the penalty for injuring the brain-dead head of State is just too severe. Limit your truth-telling to this and other safe sites. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 23, 2022 Thank you very much for this, C.B. You’re right, I love the song. My father was great at carpentry. As a child I spent a lot of time watching in wonder. I adore the smell of sawdust. I promise not to read anything in front of our Resident, but my truth-telling is already out there and is gaining momentum… my brain lost to my conscience, I’m afraid. Reply
Jeff Eardley February 24, 2022 CB, can I thank you so much for the link to this wonderful song. I have long been a bluegrass fan since Flatt and Scruggs and the Kentucky Colonels, but these guys are just so good. Reply
David Watt February 24, 2022 Susan, you are able to wrap a distasteful dish in such a way that it presents as fine cuisine. The lies and misinformation are certainly distasteful, yet your abundant rhyme and rhythm work their magic. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 25, 2022 Thank you, David. I have served this dish to people that have thrown it back in my face (people I love and care for). No matter how palatable or distasteful, I’m still gonna serve it. Am I an idiot or a sage? Only time will tell. Reply
Margaret Coats February 25, 2022 “The scars far and wide carved by souls who have died” makes me think of a thin, tearful girl with a face of indescribable grief. She couldn’t move to bring up the Valentine bouquet she was clutching, and put it on the casket of a young man for whose death there was no warning and no reason. Sage Susan, you have spoken for her and hundreds of thousands of others. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 25, 2022 Margaret, I am honored to have done so. My heart breaks for those who have suffered at the hand of evil and I will not stop shouting out in the name of justice until this heartbreaking tide turns. The thin, tearful girl has me right by her side and my thoughts and prayers are with her. May God bless her. Reply
David Whippman March 1, 2022 Clever stuff Susan. Throughout the Covid saga, I’ve been frustrated at how few simple yet relevant questions (eg how many are dying with covid as opposed to from covid?) are asked. Thank goodness that in the UK – I don’t know about the USA – we are returning to some kind of normality. Let’s hope your poem is the epitaph for the group insanity. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 2, 2022 Thank you for this, David. I’m very glad to hear the UK is returning to some kind of normality. We’ve had the appearance of ‘normality’ here in Texas for some time… if you turn a blind eye to babies being experimented on, kids being jabbed, not being able to travel unless you get a booster, the medical kidnappings in hospitals that receive financial reward for intubating Covid patients that die as a result, treatments being withheld, and businesses being ruined because of draconian regulations… I fear we’re at a stage where we’ll comply with anything the government suggests for fear of having ‘normality’ removed once again – that’s Texas and I fear the rest of the Western World… It reminds me of a scene from that book no one’s taking any notice of – how many fingers am I holding up? Reply
