On June 30, 2020, Mayor Indya Kincannon asked Kallet for a poem that rallies Knoxville to wear masks and our Poet Laureate wrote Friends Wear Masks!
By Marilyn Kallet
Friends Wear Masks!
“Excuse me,” the moose tapped the goose,
“Why aren’t you wearing a mask?”
“Why do you ask?” replied the goose.
“Because these are scary times, bad germs
on the loose. So we protect each other
by covering our noses and mouths.”
“But I’ll look ugly,” said the goose.
“No, you’ll look like you’re ready
for a costume party,” said the moose.
“Your eyes are your best feature,
my friend!” But the goose was
clueless. “Real men don’t wear masks,”
he said. “They should,” said the moose.
“Germs don’t care who’s ripped, who’s
Dem or GOP. Real men protect their
fams, and we are one people, we are kin.
“Do it for me!” begged the moose,
“Or you will be a silly, sickly goose.”
“Okay, okay,” said the goose, “for you,
I’ll cover my nose and mouth.
Because we’re pals. And though
we’re different, we both
love Knoxville, that’s the truth!”
“Thank you,” said the moose, to his
healthy, wise friend. They stayed
buddies to the long-lived end!