Introduction
It was always my intention to produce a sequel to Covid Tymes, which was written during the Corona virus Pandemic. I anticipated a further wave of the virus through the winter months. The news in September and October was fraught with other issues – transport, fuel prices at the pumps, gas and electricity hikes. I moved my thoughts to other things, and didn’t write much about Covid, although I tried to keep up with the news. Covid became just a boring part of life and I lost interest in the idea of writing more poems about it. Then we got news of Omicron.
Omicron was a corona virus spin off – a “variant of concern” identified by scientists in South Africa. News of this strain led some people to think it had come from South Africa, which was not the case. They just had great research and science. Omicron was found to be more transmissible – it spread quickly – and yet (mainly due to our vaccination programme ) – the resulting infection was milder and carried less likely-hood of the need for hospitalisation.. However, sheer numbers meant it was still a threat to our overstretched, tired NHS workforce.
(some of the poems in New Normal are also entered on the website separately)
I said it, didn’t I?
Save your mask, I said
You’ll need it again, mark my words
And here we are three weeks to Christmas
Still washing hands and distancing
Whilst wrapping gifts and tinselling
Trying to pretend it’s gone away
I don’t want to be a Christmas Grinch
Though it seems that way
So although we won’t be having mistletoe
We’re having Christmas anyway.
This collection reflects my thoughts as we move – whether gliding gleefully or staggering gingerly – from Covid (Omicron) into New Normal.
Plus, as always, a little bit of weird.
September #I
A shortage of drivers with HGV licences
Is causing supplies to diminish
So they’re changing the rules at the DVLA
To get testing done quick to the finish
Without having to learn in a lorry
You can learn to drive an artic.
And get a new licence to drive one
And get a job on the road really quick
You will learn to drive safely but quickly
While you’re eating, or quenching your thirst
And how to drive slowly in convoys
While the tailback behind you all curse
You’ll learn how to keep all your cargo secure
And how to sleep in the cab of your van
But you probably won’t learn to U-turn
As quick as the government can
You’ll get an introductory bonus
For getting stock back in the shop
So get on this gravy train right away
Before it all comes to a stop
September #2
Oh! Now it’s a flipping fuel shortage
The Media – Do you read it and weep?
They fuelled the fuel crisis all by themselves
And people believe it – and follow like sheep
It does make you wonder, sometimes
If the news said, just as our mothers alleged
That if our friends decided to jump of a cliff
We would follow them off of the edge
What will the media think up next
To create more havoc and stress
They need shutting down
And run out of town
If we’re to ever get out of this mess
Twenty Twenty Vision
Twenty twenty vision became a blur
Through windows and on Zooms
Of washing hands, Of staying in
Of isolation rooms
Twenty twenty vision was a blinkered view…..
Twenty Twenty-One
Has been a very strange year
Where does the time go?
September #3
Boosters for the over fifties
Vaccine for the twelve to fifteens
Back up plans to halt the spread
Think we all know what this means
Covid hasn’t gone away
Right from the start, it’s here to stay
Cautious might not be good enough
Take a look at all this stuff
Night clubs open, and all sorts
Of Concerts festivals, and sports
Crowded streets and busy beaches
How much to risk – how far it reaches
Back in school and cases rising
Well that was hardly surprising
Australia’s locked down again
But at last we can go to Turkey and Spain
(Don’t go to Canaries they had a volcano
Erupted all over – so that’s a big no-no).
Visitors – please use
The paper towels provided
After hand washing
New Normal
No more isolation
No more quarantine
We have our passport
We’ve had the vaccine
We’ve shopped on line
Stayed in our room
Worked at home
And met on Zoom
Like flu and the common cold
Covid’s here to stay
Let’s travel bravely together
Into New Normal today