If the mind of the flesh is death
and the mind of the spirit is life and peace
then surely the voice of silence
is an abyss of empty darkness
while heads buried in the sand
(maybe from fear)
(maybe from denial)
-ensure the sealing of
lips- that the truth not be told
ears- that the facts never unfold
and eyes- that place the future on hold
© Vivian Zems
Image: Pop Art By Haring Keith-in the era of AIDS awareness. (Ignorance =Fear)
Dverse Poets
Smell The Coffee 
October 10, 2019 at 11:46 pm
Such a strong and sensitive message. I was an actor when Aids started to show up. It scared the hell out of everybody, and I lost a lot of good friends to it.
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October 11, 2019 at 12:02 am
A sad time indeed!
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October 10, 2019 at 11:48 pm
Great use of that most powerful image. Isn’t he the artist that did the subway art in NYC? I just saw an Antique Roadshow that featured a piece of his art and he was so active in the AIDS SF. Not much hope back then. Really glad you brought this Vivian.
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October 11, 2019 at 12:02 am
Thanks Victoria. I’ve only learned of his work recently. A gifted individual. But his work lives on, so I guess he fulfilled his purpose.
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October 10, 2019 at 11:50 pm
Don’t know what happened in the first post. It should say AIDS movement. And that I managed one of the first AIDS units in SF when there was really no hope. That was in the 80’s.
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October 11, 2019 at 12:00 am
Those were times of fear and gross misinformation. Sad. Well done for your contribution to the movement.
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October 11, 2019 at 12:03 am
Thank you. It was a privilege.
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October 12, 2019 at 6:51 pm
😊
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October 10, 2019 at 11:50 pm
You really have to pay attention while reading your poem, which perfectly mirrors paying attention with the AIDS. So well articulated and mirrored, Vivian. I know Keith passed from AIDS-related complications, and if I remember correctly one of your loved ones did also.
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October 10, 2019 at 11:58 pm
Thank you. Do you remember the terrible fear that swept nations? When I qualified in dentistry in the 90’s we’d have to see HIV patients at the end of the day- and double-glove… then spray the entire room down afterwards! Thankfully, cross-infection procedures are now more sophisticated and civilised. (My brother- cancer of the kidneys… and he was a kidney surgeon too- huge bummer😔)
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October 11, 2019 at 12:34 am
Yes I do remember the terrible fear. It was a time I was a young person, enjoying being liberated. Towards the end of the 70s I remember going in to the health department “between partners” and being tested. I remember that “6 month window” and the anxiety of waiting until it was over to be tested. I can’t even imagine working in the dental field and having to use universal precautions. My ex-husband was a nurse in an emergency room and I remember how scared I was for him that he’d get bitten or stuck with a syringe or someone “get him” with their body fluids. Sorry for remembering wrong about your brother, and my condolences for your loss.
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October 12, 2019 at 6:51 pm
Troubling times behind us- and more troubling times ahead…sigh! And thank you 🙏🏽
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October 11, 2019 at 4:38 am
Nice lines: “then surely the voice of silence
is an abyss of empty darkness”
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October 12, 2019 at 6:48 pm
Thank you Frank!
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October 11, 2019 at 11:12 am
Ignorance is one of the killers. It would be wonderful if all it needed was enlightenment, but you’ll get deniers despite the most cast-iron evidence. People unfortunately believe and do whatever suits them.
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October 12, 2019 at 6:46 pm
Sadly- so true.
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October 11, 2019 at 12:01 pm
This is a lovely, heartfelt poem.
I’ve met many fantastic people living full and healthy lives with HIV now. It’s no longer a death sentence here in S Africa, although it remains a huge problem. Sadly, here there is still so much ignorance and such stigma attached to HIV.
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October 11, 2019 at 3:53 pm
Well done. Silence can be such a great crime.
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October 12, 2019 at 6:46 pm
Indeed!
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October 12, 2019 at 9:14 am
There’s still too much silence, though – the stigma that surrounds HIV also surrounds a lot of serious mental illnesses. We are happy to talk about anxiety and depression, less happy to think about schizophrenia. Silence leads to ignorance leads to fear.
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October 12, 2019 at 6:43 pm
Absolutely!
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October 12, 2019 at 11:19 pm
Since Ryan White lived very near my city, his story was one that touched our hearts. Your poem is powerful.
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October 13, 2019 at 8:32 am
Thank you Beverly!
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