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POETRY IN THE PLAGUE YEAR

Poems written during the Coronavirus Outbreak 2020

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Alison Ringrose

Ponteland, Northumberland, UK

 

 

Alison Ringrose is a former language teacher who enjoys writing poetry in her retirement. She is an enthusiastic member of the Northumbrian Writers Group and has been pleased to achieve some successes in NAWG competitions and others. Her interests cover writing both fiction and memoir, the arts, reading, dogs, family, walking, and in addition she edits the Parish magazine.

 

Completed  on 10th March 2020

 

Outbreak

 

Outbreak!  Feel fear!

The heart pounds, the stomach churns.

Remember it at the cinema?

Masked terror as the film reel turns.

Then Ebola– wailing widows,

a dying child, we saw it all

at home, in comfort, on TV

after Friends and before Blue Planet.

My grandmother couldn’t abide

the subject of the Spanish flu.

Her sister died, but she survived,

clutching her baby, saying her prayers.

She shares her memories with no-one.

Polio we barely recall–

was it on TV at all?

Global pandemic– not a film.

It’s here and now, surreal’s the word

on everyone’s lips, and lockdown.

It must be fake. Will we all wake

by chance, and find it’s a nightmare?

We must keep our social distance,

shun the warmth of human contact,

run on the spot, have virtual fun,

Stay Home, Stay Safe and Wash our Hands.

But the nation bands together

to clap the NHS at eight,

and do some morning exercise with Joe

and wait. Nothing lasts forever.

We must endeavour to defeat

the foe, and hope that life’s renewed.

After the Flood the future was rainbow hued.

Our Ark must sail such stormy seas

catch the breeze, arrive safe in port.

Fix all hopes on that thought, and when

salvation comes, with what elation

we will greet it, you and me!

The fight will have been fought, and when

confinement is ended, we will…

break out!  Feel free!