Just so I NEVER forget... April 2, 2020

Woke again this morning
anything but free,
drove a mile for gas
a dollar 63.

Distance learning only
for schools, I don’t know,
a month past now
feels like a year ago.

Self-distancing’s a thing
on everyone’s lips,
how only a little while back
it was in no one’s script.

How bizarre to find
tape on the floors,
greeting shoppers
at all grocery stores.

Go outside
it’s a thing unseen,
you want to be alone
from where you’ve been.

People in masks
everywhere,
the confusion you feel
when people stare.

Never felt so on edge
inside the store,
can’t wait to get out
of that door.

“Non-essential”
is yet another word,
a constant reminder
this world’s gone absurd.

Businesses mandated
their doors are closed,
everyone gets it
these changes go unopposed.

Parks and play areas
entire cities locked down,
the mind boggles
it’s a global frown.

Death to sports
entire seasons canned,
any and all contact
that’s been banned.

Entertainment events
they’re gone too,
it’s left everyone thinking
what are we to do?

Weddings and funerals
shocking to see,
only the basic few
will see them be.

All services of worship
everything’s electronic,
flocks are scattered
digital’s the tonic.

“Socialise” is a word
right out of favour,
the only ones now
are family to savour.

Heaven forbid
workers go unprotected,
in the frontline
they risk being infected.

Ventilators... oh how
we never knew,
would come to be so vital
they’re so few.

Panic buying
wasn’t just a fad,
how did things
get so bad.

Things we took for granted
so prized are they now,
we pray they’ll be there
for shopkeepers to allow.

Shelves are bare
like wartime it feels,
shoppers aghast
it doesn’t feel real.

Distilleries change
their lines of discharge,
other businesses switch so
vital supplies to enlarge.

The world’s united
in one thing I suppose,
everyone’s scrambling
as the entire world slows.

Governments close borders
to all non-essential travel,
yes, travellers now
risk their health to unravel.

Fines to the extreme
for breaking the rules,
staying at home
is now most precious of jewels.

Makeshift hospitals
stadiums and tents,
all sorts of facilities
for Covid-19 patients.

Press conferences daily
from every world leader,
daily updates are the norm
who’d be a mind-reader?

Essential service workers
terrified to go to work,
none of these ones
could you call a jerk.

Medical workers
oh what a bitter pill,
cannot go home
and make their families ill.

Think of this time
we won’t forget it fast,
at no time in historywill it feel in the past.

Hold to your family
as much as you can,
right now and always
they are your plan.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash