We’re here for you

Grandson

This poem from Pearl is about the impact of Covid on families and children.

GRANDSON

I put my hands out, little boy

To dance together, act your play,

But: “What about the germs?” you say.

You child of four,

You precious one

No touch, no contact,

No more fun?

Reminding me who should know more-

Covid rules, Covid law.

What life is this?

Can’t dance my ‘son-

A person’s life barely begun-

Like this !!?

It must be wrong ?

What’s in your head?

What make you of  this?

Masked adults, mustn’t kiss

We never had before like this,

Rules on rules

Locked inside out,

Timeless hours, screaming sirens, fallen flowers.

Trembling armies work to save

Children, finance, dying

Patients from their graves,

Screened by plastic PPE,

I feel so helpless,

Infant me.

We never knew, our lives were safe,

We held each other dear and far,

You saw my smile,

My joy in you, life on pause we’re living now,

I pray there’s time for us to see

A different future,

You and me.

Surviving This

This poem by Pearl reflects on the pandemic. Thank you for sharing your words with us Pearl.

Surviving This

No use of armies, bombs or guns,

Invisibly silent, with stealth

It comes, to choke the life from in our lungs.

No shield can stop its mad advance, its leading us a merry dance.

Risk factors out the chance that we will catch this vile bug,

Then pass it on to those we hug

And hold so close within our hearts.

‘Scopic warriors, spiked and deadly

Breeding in us

Causing chaos,

This is History in the making, if we survive this we are breaking

Worldwide chains of spread,

God knows we need this virus dead.

All ages, stages, Life on pause,

From young to old, direct or indirect, it changes paths of Life,

Cutting through us with its knife.

We must be fierce,

Like those before in other Wars,

Not let its march delete our species,

Fight together,

Stay apart,

Wear masks to shield our weakest links,

Wash its bodies down our sinks.

Whatever’s done to us before,

We need our strength now even more,

We’re used to trauma, know the score,

Know what triggers are our flaw,

We have more than fear to mask

Surviving this now is our task.

We matter here, deserve to live,

We ALL have so much more to give.

Right now is History we can make, 

How many of us it will take

I do not know,

But Inner Strength to follow rules

Will be our armour from this foe,

We must deplete it 

Now, or go.

We’re In This Together

Thank you to Mollie (not her real name) for sharing this amazing poem; her words emphasize the importance of compassion, connection and coming together during these difficult times.

We’re in this together

Let’s hope for joy

Oh boy oh boy we all need some joy

Let’s show the world we can smile

Even if it is for a while

Let’s look after one another

So we can beat this together

As we fight the fight

I am sure we will be alright

Let’s pull together

Now more than ever

– Stay safe please, Mollie

Only A Trigger

Pearl has written this amazing poem while in lockdown, reflecting on how the current situation has triggered a lot of memories and emotions.

Lockdown…… 

         Shockdown.

         I’m as small as I was-

         No escape- because

         I have to obey,

         Nothing’s my way,

         I’m out of control,

         I’ve lost my role,

         I’m spiralling down

         Into the pit

         Where the Demons sit

         And laugh, so smug

         at my innocent cries,

         My infant ides

         In shrouds of dust,

         I know I must

         Obey this ‘man’,

         This Power, this sham.

         I have no say,

         No voice to speak,

         No sound, too weak.

         I must just breathe,

         That’s all I can do,

         I know if I breathe

         It will carry me through

         and back into sunlight, where I can be FREE,

         Back to my adult self.

         Back to be me.

         I know I can beat this,

         Can rise up and sing, 

         Its only a trigger

         This ‘Lockdown’ thing.

         BUT, I’m silent with fear, like a mouse scared to tread,

         Frightened of surfaces, scared to be dead.

         I feel unclean, unseen…..

         Only on screen,

         Storing up eye-strain,

         Developing Blue brain,

         Tapping my life out,

         Snipping my hair-

         That’s hard- to be fair.

         Thank God for Wotsap,

         Thank God I’m still 

          here to clap,

          Every Thursday.

         It’s silly I know,

         The big fear is outside,

         I’m safe in my house,

         Being Virtual mouse,

         But the Big Fear is in me,

         inside my head,

         It’s haunting and calling     

         Me down to be dead.

         I have to not listen,

         Not fall for their lies,

         I have to keep going,

         My Phoenix must rise.

         P’raps I should learn this,

         NOW may be the time,

         My jailers are long dead,

         The Demons are mine.