Coronavirus, Lessons Learned?
I wrote this in response to ‘Last Post’ by Carol Ann Duffy, which she wrote for the centenary of the start of World War I in 2014.
“In all my dreams, before my helpless sight
he plunges at me, guttering choking, drowning…”
Carol Ann Duffy
If sheer will could make this virus depart, great,
begin 2020 with wildfires and media floods…
but I remember corona, coughs, gasping,
still hearts and coffins… buried in the mud
stockpile small island and food shortages
see lines and lines of empty shelves
ghost-like, spectres in the trenches
no paracetamol for mother, now we realise
how much rely on sisters and our older brothers
but corona enters
sucker punches our towns and cities
COVID-19 says pro patria mori
come the summer, I hope it walks away
he walks away; dropped off the grid (melts)
like your mates did before you –
Ebola, Plague, Malaria, AIDs, Spanish Flu.
It’s quiet out
but has given community a flare
Mr Covid has left millions without
folks cleaning everything
down to every cell and hair
and the living found their souls
freshly alive, the Italians sing
open-mics online, sat silent like kings
staying at home
leaving millions of lives with hope
stories, smiles, love and children
food on the table
if sheer will could make this go away, great
but it’s taught us community
that stuff is just stuff, replaceable
that we are not Gods
not even the plutocrats at Number 10
