We are told to stay
Be still and desist
From gatherings
Either we are
Isolates
Without the
Mirror
Of others
To remind
Us who we are
Or households
For the duration
Holding each others’
Lives in our hands
Either we are separated
Unable to visit
Loved ones or we
See others
Far more
Far longer in lockdown
Than usual
Waiting it out
The drip of a pipette
News feeds us
With horrifying
Stories and statistics
The work of a
Deadly virus
Unpredictable
Unknown
Vicious
We wait it out
We are not safe
To be close to
Others but
We are social animals
This is our deprivation
No vaccine for ages
It goes on we
Wait it out
We have to
Bear the constraints
Work around and
Adapt to our
New realities
Furlough
Virtual contact
Zoom
We do some of our
Usual things
That way
What a facility!
Relieving not
To travel but
Its just not the same
Not to be together
We protest!
For some
The adaptation
Is too much
They withdraw
Even more
We wait it out
We feel blessed
To be well and
Perturbed
Helpless like
Frightened rabbits
About the
Fate of
Others we
Wait it out
The planes stop
Traffic is less
And our
Environment
Gloriously
Bedecked in
Spring has
Never looked
Better
We wait it out
We fear for the earth
All this caused by us
We fear for the vulnerable
Without space to
Isolate to exercise
Those in whom
This virus
Will find little
Resistance
We wait it out
Everyday like
A snow day
We stop
We have time
We clean out
Drawers
We feed our
Gardens
Who thrive
With our
Attention
We wait it out
We want to
Help we
Volunteer
We reach out
We find tendrils
Of care that
Creatively
Spring up
We find ways
To serve
We wait it out
Is our everyday
Snow day
A chance to
Experience in
Less is more
Relief in
A simpler
Life where
We rediscover
Our humanity
In caring
For the earth
For each other?
Philippa Smethurst is a psychotherapist with a specialism in trauma. She also enjoys poetry and finds it immensely helpful in understanding the world and capturing a moment.
