THE HOLE THAT DAN DUG: A Metaphor

PANDEMIC WRITINGS, Melbourne, Australia (2020-2022): piece originally published September 25, 2020

There was work to be done. Under the leadership of Premier Dan Andrews, a site had been chosen, somewhere just off a wrong path. He had eagerly aligned the broad flat blade of his shovel with the lawn, placing his foot, shifting his weight, and cutting and lifting a clump of uprooted grass in one focused motion. The first impression of a hole had been made with much fanfare. Indeed, many fans were impressed and cheered, but some sternly cautioned against digging a hole; yet, he awkwardly thrust the shovel again, stomped a foot, and defiantly flung a second load over his shoulder.

Soon, the dirt piled high, and the hole became a sizeable depression, and many absolutely admired the hole that was being dug. When asked why he dug so enthusiastically, Andrews expressed that he needed to dig a massive pit to transfer the mounds of soil now piled around the site. With this revelation, some were perplexed, even alarmed; but many marveled at his ability to take initiative and formulate a plan. He was doing the work. He was doing this for all of us. It all had to be buried as deeply as possible. Surely this was wise, and despite those that remained outspoken and oppositional, very few amongst his fanatics questioned the wisdom of the Premier who had dedicated himself to the task. Things did not make sense to all, but sense was not making anything really and contributing to less, and Andrews was making a difference in making a tremendous hole, and there was work to be done. Many applauded his steely resolve. This man could surely dig! There was plenty of soil that needed to be buried ever deeper.

Once he had dug deep enough, they all knew that then, and only then, could Andrews begin to bury all the soil that had been removed. The necessary depth was not known, but Dan knew, and Dan alone. However, this soon became problematic — Dan was not alone in his hole. The hole was now craterous, having been dug on the behalf of all, and it was apparent that ‘We are all in this together!’ And we surely were — all Victorians in the hole that Dan dug, looking down, daring not to look up, now tasked with burying the soil that had been first displaced to ‘bury the soil.’

‘Standing with Dan,’ his devoted followers entrusted that the shovel was not only in good hands, but the very best:

“WE will dig deep enough! WE will bury the soil!”