Universal Cure

For all the world’s diseases and all life’s little ills
they’ve been inventing medicines, elixirs, syrups, pills.
But those crafty bacteria, viruses and germs
keep running on ahead of us as we come to terms
with ways to counteract them. They’re crafty little mites
who somehow slip inside of us through food or air or bites.
So in spite of all our science—our test tubes and our beakers,
all that malevolent mini-world just don their little sneakers
and keep on evolving a little bit ahead.
Enough to keep us sneezing or roiling in our bed.
And as for a panacea—a cure to conquer all—
although you have not asked for it, still I’ll make a call.

I’m rather sure that there will never be a
panacea.

What was I doing 9 years ago today? writing the above poem. Here reblogged for today’s Throwback Edition.