these are not the worst of times

these are not the worst

of times,

this is not

the end of the world, not

even close.

this is nothing.

a mere blip on the map

of history.

live through

the great depression,

or the holocaust, or

the great fires of Chicago,

or San Francisco.

the black plague.

world war one where

a thousand 

people died per day.

go fight at Antietam

or Gettysburg.

wake up with polio

and no cure.

live through that,

then come back with 

your latte

and cat on your lap

and start over.