©2008, Janet K. Poludniak

My computer chimes,
and I struggle to focus:
ALERT—VIRUS DETECTED!
The tiny hairs rise
on the back of my neck.

Panic strikes, my heart races
as I click, DETAILS:
UNABLE TO ISOLATE!
CANNOT INNOCULATE.
My panic escalates.

In warp speed
I double click
my ANTI-VIRUS icon
selecting, UPDATE NOW!
Minutes seem like hours.

Finally, it finishes—
YOUR COMPUTER
WILL RESTART NOW.
I hold my breath
anticipating the worst.

Clicking, grinding, spinning,
the drive engages;
the WINDOW'S icon appears.
I double click again:
SCAN DISC NOW!

Three viruses list
each bearing the report:
SUCCESSFULLY QUARANTINED.
YOUR COMPUTER
IS OPERATING NORMALLY.

I can breathe
that long awaited
sigh of relief,
but quickly create a
restoration point.

I love my computer;
I hate the risks.
Inserting a blank CD,
I burn a brand new
recovery disc.

My final precaution—
I back-up my life.
"Better safe than sorry!"
I whisper a prayer,
"Thank You, Lord."

I reboot my system.
I'm sit here thankful
before this keyboard!
Opening my word processor
I type, SCAN DISC NOW.

Feverishly typing,
my computer chimes.
I struggle to focus:
ALERT . . . . "Not again!"
and repeat the process.

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