Tags
#2020, #coronavirus, #covid, #lockdown, #lostyear, #pandemic, #poetry, #quarantine, poem, year
There was a time when life stood still
Friends and family all fell ill
People sheltered inside, hearts filled with fear
Frozen, we waited for the virus to clear
Jobs, dining, and worship were halted
China and the government were the ones faulted
Lipstick sales dropped as masks were worn
No touching, kissing, or loving became the new norm
Theaters, sports, and movies were gone
Nature filled the streets, even a fawn
Life as we knew it slipped away
It was fast, just like that, all in one day
Some say it’s the end, marked by a plague
There’s storms, locusts, and red water; it’s not a gag
Hate for one another fills our streets
It’s back, it’s here, WW II is on repeat
How do we stop it? It’s spinning away fast
Day after day, we’re farther and farther from our past
Our only hope seems to be a vaccine
Scientists work hard, ‘cuz masks are for Halloween
What if simplicity never returns?
What if this is it and the sky burns?
Our life of isolation must someday end
So, friends, family, and neighbors, your ear I’ll bend
Our lives are filled with a few simple rules
We’ll return to the past if we use these tools
It’s more than masks and six feet apart
It’s deeper, bigger, a change in our heart
Put away anger, fear, blame, and frustration
Remember that, inside, we’re all the same nation
Love, patience, and understanding we need
It’s easy, it’s basic, the same for every creed
If we survive, if we make it through
Will we learn from or forget this terrible flu?
Someday, our children will tell stories that chill
Eerily, they’re stories of the year time stood still
Tomorrow is a gift not a promise, I’m sure
It’s up to us whether man will endure
So value and hold close those who are dear
There’s no guarantee we’ll survive the lost year
The end.