Echoes of Deception, Threads of Hope
In shadows of fear, a whisper takes hold,
A sinister seed, a conspiracy untold.
Whispers of a virus, man-made and vile,
Profit the motive, trust exiled.
Amidst echoes of doubt and deceit's dark dance,
A personal battle, a silent stance.
Isolation's sting, stigma's crushing weight,
The heaviness of uncertainty's relentless gait.
Michel Simonin's struggle, a fight to be heard,
Against AIDS' cruel stigma, his voice undeterred.
In letters and television, his story unfurled,
Defying the silence, refusing to be deterred.
Through tears of resilience, a choice bravely made,
To shatter the silence, to not be swayed.
Unveiling the humanity behind the disease,
Reclaiming identity, refusing to appease.
Yet in depths of sorrow's unending night,
Science illuminates, a beacon of light.
WGS and NGS unravel the viral code,
Evolution's truth, HIV's primal abode.
In sequencing's intricate art, a tale unfolds,
Of chimpanzee origins, zoonotic thresholds. Palindromes dance in the RNA's sway,
Nature's complex beauty, now on display.
Yet echoes of deception still linger and spread,
Shattering lives, filling hearts with dread.
The vulnerable bear the heaviest toll,
In fabrication's web, their innocence stole.
In this intimate war, we must take a stand,
Embracing our scars, extending a hand.
Empathy our salve, compassion our guide,
In unity and truth, our spirits reside.
From pain's crucible, we'll rise transformed,
Scars into strength, wisdom reborn.
In the symphony of survival, harmony will reign,
As we honour the journey, through sun and rain.
With science as our compass, truth as our light,
We'll navigate the landscapes of the heart's might.
Reclaiming our stories, our voices bold,
In courage and resilience, our lives we'll mould.
In the tapestry of existence, we'll find our place,
Stitching together healing, with tender grace.
Each breath a rebellion, each moment a choice,
To survive and thrive, with authentic voice.
In the echoes of resilience, hope whispers anew,
Threads of connection, strength to see us through.
Through shadows and light, we'll weave our way,
Embracing our truth, come what may.
In the alchemy of survival, transformation blooms,
Vulnerability becomes armour, silence finds its tune.
From shattered fragments, a mosaic we'll raise,
A testament to the unbreakable human spirit's blaze.
Author's Notes/Comments:
Although already mentioned in bio, I am a scientist, a microbiologist (traditional and current bioinformatics whole genome sequencing variety). I also admit I received payment from Zoetis, a pharmacy company, which equated to AUS 30c/hour.
World AIDS Day on December 1st is a time for reflection, remembrance, and raising awareness about the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS. I had hoped to share this poem in time for the occasion, but the weight of the topic and the desire to do it justice meant I simply ran out of time, spoons, and headspace to complete it. I had resigned myself to waiting until next year to perfect the piece.
However, a recent comment I encountered gave me pause. It related to the pernicious conspiracy theory that HIV is a man-made virus, a falsehood popularised by "cultropreneurials" and denialists whose views are often rooted in classism, racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of prejudice.
This dangerous misinformation continues to spread, causing actual harm to individuals and communities affected by HIV/AIDS.
In light of this, I felt compelled to share the poem now, even in its imperfect state, as a small act of resistance against the echoes of deception that still reverberate.
The poem "Echoes of Deception, Threads of Hope" attempts to grapple with the complex history and ongoing reality of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
It begins by acknowledging the whispers of conspiracy, the sinister seeds of doubt sown by those profiting from fear and mistrust.
The poem then delves into the personal battles fought by those living with HIV/AIDS and the crushing weight of stigma, isolation, and uncertainty they face.
The story of Michel Simonin, a French activist who fought tirelessly to break the silence around AIDS in the 1980s, is a thread of resilience woven throughout the poem. His courage in the face of cruel stigma and his refusal to be silenced are a testament to the unbreakable human spirit.
As the poem unfolds, it turns to the illuminating power of science, unravelling the viral code through advanced sequencing techniques like WGS and NGS. The beauty and complexity of evolution are juxtaposed against the echoes of deception that continue to shatter lives.
The poem is a call to action, an invitation to stand together in this intimate war, armed with empathy, compassion, and truth. It speaks to the transformative power of resilience, the alchemy of turning scars into strength, pain into wisdom.
Ultimately, "Echoes of Deception, Threads of Hope" is a tribute to the tapestry of human existence, the threads of connection that bind us together in the face of unimaginable challenges. It is a reminder that each breath, each moment, is a choice - to survive, to thrive, to raise our voices in an authentic chorus of hope.
As we navigate the complex landscape of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, may we hold fast to the compass of science, the light of truth, and the power of our shared humanity. Let this poem be a small thread in the larger tapestry of our ongoing struggle, a testament to the unbreakable spirit that resides within us all.
