Carolyn Langenhoven

Auckland, New Zealand

Carolyn is a creative who is currently immersed in writing – memoir, children’s picture books and now poetry. She has a Bachelor of Education degree, a short history in education, and a longer one sailing the oceans of the world, only to become a landlubber again then a mother and a writer.

This poem was written on 24th April 2020

Lockdown 2020

So, we’re heading into lockdown – Covid 19 Lockdown

And all I can think is, “Noooooo…”

How will I cope with people in my bubble all day, every day

And no way out?

A husband, two kids, the dog and the cat.

People in my space

Breaking the silence

Smothering the birdsong, the wind’s song

Smashing the serenity to smithereens

Yet it starts, the days go by

And we find our own spaces

Within each day

I begin to enjoy the morning breakfast chats

The social discussions – Anzac and pandemics

The coming together at lunchtimes and afternoon tea

There’s time to clear out the eighteen years of junk from under the house.

The wooden planks that rotted and the ice cream container of bent nails. What the –?

There’s time for long family walks

Time to skype grandparents

Time to jump on the trampoline

To listen to our kids – really listen

Time to dance

There’s time to learn the haka

Paint the house and juggle – balls not life

There’s time to do the lockdown dance

Sew an apron, build a wooden bench

Bake cookies and cakes

There’s time to hear ourselves think

So even though they’re in my space – these people –

My family that belong here but are usually out at school and work

While I work from home alone

Even though there’s now noise and energy, movement and “Mum!”

There’s also colour and fun, song and dance

Opinions and arguments

And our latest in-house joke: “Why’dya do it that way?”

There’s life in my space

And now that the end of lockdown looms, all I can think is, “Noooooo…”

How will I cope without these people in my bubble?

An empty house every day?

Well –

I guess I’ll have to.