The Year of the ‘rona: An Uncontrolled Trial in Verse

In his satiric poem titled “The Year of the ‘rona: An Uncontrolled Trial in Verse,” Rob Mitchell, a Melbourne emergency physician, criticizes the inadequate response to COVID-19 in 2020, blaming elected officials for failing the public. Mitchell explores the unscientific suggestions of Trump and the eloquence of Australian officials, highlighting the belated and insufficient nature of their actions. The poem’s title emphasizes the chaotic management of the pandemic, portraying the constant trial and error in formulating a suitable response, which the speaker suggests is lacking in responsible institutions. Despite the efforts of Autralian health authorities like Brendan Murphy and Dr. Brian Kidd, the suffering persists until Christmas, leaving Australians with little recourse other than hoping for a vaccine. Mitchell concludes with exposing the empty promises surrounding the COVID-19 response in both the United States and Australia. Through resigned irony, Mitchell confronts the pandemic’s chaos and the failure of governmental institutions to act effectively.