Bump and Hide We don't Bump into each Other anymore. No more Oh I'm sorry, Let me Pick you up Off the floor. It's orchestral manoeuvres In the street, Elbows touch If we dare to meet. The eyes have it, One blink for yes Two for no. Masked intentions, Don't move with the flow. Just step aside, Don't take the chance, Thou shall not bump into me This way, that way, Do the Covid dance. ___________________ Every walk outside nowadays involves the Covid Dance. A choreographed displ

Coronachievements Lockdown 6 months on...Before and After I'll read every book I've got. I read half a page and stopped. I'll exercise, be lean, fit and trim. The most I did was take out the bins. I'll diet, eat healthily, lots of fruit and veg. Bed sheets covered with crumbs of banana bread. I'll redecorate the house, then write that novel. Computer said No and I live in a hovel. I'll ring all my family, my colleagues and friends. Ah communication breakdown and so it ends. I

Normality Masks on Sanitize your hands. Enter this way, Follow the route as planned, One way around the shop Don't touch the products Don't sneeze or cough, Or get too near. Shuffling past 2 metres apart For fear of brushing Against someone outside Your carefully selected bubble. Sorry, 'scuse me, don't mean To cause trouble. Empty shops closed shops Retail staff idly waiting The tills stay silent, hopeful Anticipating the Saturday rush That doesn't come. The new normal As th

Proletariat! Proletariat! Hear our cry. Stay Alert! Words to the wise. Don't blink & drive, Or pop to the beach. Don't inject yourself Or drink the bleach. Stay home, Come what may. Don't do what we do, Just do what we say. Proletariat! You not me. Stay Alert! There's no truth to see. _____________________________ A poem for us, the proletariat, the great unwashed, the morass, the mass, the public, the populous, not them, but you, me, us. Proletariat! #

Civic Duty! (UK Government Latest Advice) Civic duty! Get Covid Done! Stay Alert! Go to Durham. Wash your hands! Track! Trace! Test! Civic duty! Do your best. Keep your distance! Wear a mask! Keep the R down Or we'll take you to task. Stay in? Go out? Flatten the curve! Go back to work! If you've got the nerve. Go to a park, the beach, You might be fine. Meet one person, End the quaratine. Take a chance and Send the kids back to school. Happy bir

In Limbo Locked down, in limbo, Suspended civilization. Grounded and home-stuck, Virtual hugs and conversations. The new normal, Where three's a crowd, And to congregate and mingle, Is no longer allowed. Viewed from behind the window Wrapped up in a mask, Two metres apart and Seizing the chance to Get out and jog, cycle or walk. Listening as nature Breathes again and talks. In birdsong, fox calls The wind in the trees, The silence of life, Carried upon th

Locked Down and Confused I've put the dinner in the fridge, Stirred salt in my tea. Put my pants on back to front, Written Friday where Monday should be. I've put my washing in the bin, Recycling in the washing machine. Defrosted the microwave twice, Dished up ice cream and baked beans. I'm locked down and confused, Not a clue of the day or time. Read every single book I own, But can't remember a single line. My twelfth cup of tea, Downed before half past eigh

Supermarket Queued I stood in the never ending supermarket queue, Face-masked and quietly admiring the view Of a hundred shoppers, socially at distance Patient, stoical, not the least insistent Or rushing and pushing and getting annoyed Just noting the person in front and trying to avoid Coming within their personal 2 metre space, Smiling with their eyes and hiding their face. Hoping against hope that nobody coughs. Hoping against hope that the chance isn't lost,

The Earth Paused. Earth Day 2020 The Earth. Paused. The Earth Paused. And took a long breath. Savouring the unfamiliar tastes, Of purity, of stillness, of quiet. The Earth Paused. And wondered where the people were. Enjoying nature's reverie, A blissful calm. The Earth Paused. And healed its wounded heart. Treating its riven scars, A peaceful rest. The Earth Paused. Mankind in lockdown. People forced to stay indoors. And the Earth is placed on a wel

We Will Another sunrise, Another day Of sofa sitting And navel gaze. Sitting quietly & Doing nowt, Staying safe & Not going out. Grateful for life, Another day, still. We'll get through this. You know we will. Stay safe, stay at home. #lockdown #coronavirus #COVID19 #hope #optimism

Self Isolation Staying indoors To self isolate. Not venturing beyond The garden gate. Stocking up aplenty, On biscuits and tea. Washing hands 20 times, After every sneeze. Watching all your Favourite old DVDs. Balancing a 1,000 piece jigsaw On your pyjama-ed knees. Boiling kettles non-stop, For endless cuppas. Playing dusty board games Bed straight after supper. Picking up the phone, For long overdue conversations. Social distancing from everyone To p