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While no one can say when the COVID-19 pandemic will ease, Jean B. Mercredy is already looking forward to that day. In fact, he’s commemorated it with a poem he’s written called “When All of This is Over.”

The Haitian native and Holbrook resident writes poetry in his spare time and delivers some of it in spoken word performances. Being a global management major carrying minors in health care resources and Spanish doesn’t leave much free time, but this enterprising student makes room for studies and work, as well as his passions – he’s also a fine dancer, specializing in Latin dances such as the salsa and merengue.

Jean works at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth in the Emerson Four unit as a unit coordinator, where he handles admissions and discharge paperwork, and serves as a liaison between patients and medical staff. The demands of his job increased this spring when the region had its largest number of coronavirus cases, and he quickly became accustomed to wearing a mask and social distancing as part of his work day.

Writing poetry helps him deal with life’s difficulties. “If I’m in stress or struggling, it’s a way of taking the stress away and helping me to connect with other people or to an audience,” Jean said.

We share this poem of his in hopes it will similarly bring some solace to our readers.

When All of This is Over

When all of this is over
I will come up to you and shake your hand
When all of this is over
I will hug you like I have never done before
When all of this is over
We will hold each other like never before
When all of this is over
I will wave at you and smile
When all of this is over
I will write you words of thankfulness
When all of this is over
We will worship the Lord under the same roof
When all of this is over
I will celebrate, honor, and exalt you with priceless ornaments
For standing strong on the front lines

You are a health care worker
You are an EMT
You volunteer to assist a suspected covid-19
You are a janitor who cleans after the sick
You are a nurse who is devoted to individual care in this catastrophe
You are a doctor who gives 100 percent of yourself
Where there you are a member of the ER
Or you coordinated a unit or did an assignment
You are a member of the health care system
Where there you were responsible to secure a place or to construct facilities

I am telling you right now!
When all of this is over
I will come up to you and shake your hand
When all of this is over
I will hug you like I have never done before
When all of this is over
We will hold each other like never before
When all of this is over
I will wave at you and smile
When all of this is over
I will write you words of thankfulness
When all of this is over
We will worship the Lord under the same roof
When all of this is over
I will celebrate, honor, and exalt you with priceless ornaments
For standing strong on the front lines
In the meantime
Thank you!!!