Hazel G Teare

Douglas, Isle of Man  

Hazel G Teare studied English, especially poetry, as her main subject at Edge Hill University as part of her teaching qualification. She is one of twelve poets selected to have a poem displayed on Isle of Man transport for the Poetry in Motion project and her poetry is published in several anthologies including ‘This Island Now’. She was selected, in 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2020 as one of up to 20 poets to have their work displayed and published during the Manx Litfest as part of the Poetry Trail and she has been shortlisted several times and won third prize in 2014 in the Flash 500 Humour Verse competitions. She has been published in various anthologies and magazines, including This Island Now and Under the Hill. She has been shortlisted in several competitions including The Poetry Box Halloween Silver Cup and was a featured poet in Dark and Horror Poetry Magazine Monthly in 2014. Hazel won the Olive Lamming poetry prize held in the Isle of Man in 2014 and, more recently, in 2020 Hazel entered an international competition run by The Poetry Kit and was awarded a ‘highly commended’. In her spare time, Hazel organises, comperes and performs at open mic poetry nights and has directed and produced poetry shows in various venues [featuring local poets] alongside fellow poet and entertainer Mike [Pullyman] Cowin to raise money for local Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s charities.  

 

POEM COMPLETED 27TH MAY 2020

 

GERM WARFARE 

Outside looks just the same as I open my front door  

Springtime has arrived again, and winter is no more  

The flowers ablaze with colour and birds sing in the trees  

Snow has turned to blossom drifting gently on the breeze  

 

It all seems very peaceful but there is a hidden curse  

A dangerous new virus that can make us ill, or worse.  

Prisoners in our own homes, no contact with our friends  

Limited outdoor time, the trepidation never ends.  

 

The sun is like a temptress beckoning us out to play  

We must resist the impulse or a heavy price we’ll pay  

No false sense of security, it’s just a trick you see  

Each reckless move makes the Grim Reaper rub his hands with glee. 

 

No shell laden bombers to darken bright blue skies  

But out there in our world an enemy is in disguise  

No landmines lurking underground to maim unwary tread  

It lies in wait for victims to infect themselves instead. 

  

No pattering of gunfire to endanger human life  

No armed troops hiding in the streets or outward signs of strife  

It can’t be destroyed with missiles or slain with guns and knives  

It is the silent murderer that threatens all our lives.  

 

Our medics are our frontline, our lives are in their hands  

What they must be going through nobody understands,  

Scientists around the world collaborate to crack  

The virus’s Enigma code to get us back on track.  

 

No meetings with world leaders to reach a compromise  

It holds the planet hostage while we watch the death toll rise  

Our enemy is tireless, doesn’t need to sleep or eat  

But however long it takes we cannot concede defeat.  

 

Our planet has been halted by this virulent disease  

It’s fired in deadly droplets from the careless cough or sneeze,  

We must draw the sword of courage as we wait behind closed doors  

Separate to save each other, so we can win this war.