Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

Tag: Coronavirus

Poem: A Second Wave? – 27/06/20

Poem: A Second Wave? – 27/06/20

The world is tense,
while some are
carefree,
 
double digits daily,
this is gravely worrying.
 
Have we become
too lax
with social distancing?
 
Family gatherings
with warm kisses
and hugs,
entering personal territory?
 
Outbreaks in
differing neighbourhoods,
participation in
public protesting:
some finger-point the blame,
 
as they fought for
rights and beliefs,
making strong, fervent points,
 
while some unknowingly
spread coronavirus,
while maybe mildly
or completely unaware,
 
are there truthfully
some who should wear
the blame?
 
Did anyone detect early sickness
and hold little concern for others,
and show no care?
  
Why didn’t they
stay at home?
Those with symptoms,
but those asymptomatic,
how could they have known?
 
Retreat into
the safety
of your house,
we don’t want
firm restrictions
back in place,
 
although at this point
it’s becoming
seemingly necessary,
 
isolation impending,
for me, you,
us and them.

© 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay

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Poem: When Normalcy Returns – A COVID-19 Poem – 14/06/20

Poem: When Normalcy Returns – A COVID-19 Poem – 14/06/20

The shopping centres
reflect ‘normalcy’,
how shopping trips
used to be,
 
no swerving or dodging,
people now calmly walking,
going about their
business leisurely.
 
I see less face masks,
less pairs of latex gloves,
fewer irritated frowns,
 
the pace of shoppers
is an amble,
some a happy stroll,
no harried eyes
and frightened demeanours
like during the restrictions of old.
 
I am so pleased that
things are returning
to normal,
COVID frightened,
caused panic,
and that’s seemed to recede,
 
we can go about
our business with
less fear,
even go to a restaurant,
sit down for a hearty meal!
 
Though there is
still a need to be cautious,
we’ve earned the right to
somewhat relax,
 
our heavy restrictions
stopped what could reflected
other nations' 
extensive, terrifying outbreaks, 
our swift shut down
controlled COVID’s potential mass spread.
 
Now with numbers
reflecting mostly containment,
we can cherish our
newfound freedom,
gratitude shining
in our eyes,
our confidence in being outside
has been building.
 
Ever thankful,
ever gracious,
a simple shopping trip
has opened my eyes,
we live in a land so blessed,
I hope we understand this,
I hope we realise.
 
© 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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Poem: These Unknown Times – 26/03/20

Poem: These Unknown Times – 26/03/20

In these unknown times,
where regulations reign to keep us safe,
we stay home,
we rest,
we recoup,
we pray to God that we will get through this biological affray.
 
Burrowed down in our blankets,
our eyes plastered to the laptop screens,
watching the news with great earnest, 
what is going on?
How will this eventuate?
What does this all mean?
 
How will we survive when daily our lives are at risk
and humankind is anything but unscathed? 
We await with apprehension
while some are blasé about the rules
they go out,
they socialise,
themselves they gather without guilt.
 
Selfish and ignorant are such types,
but what can we do?
We are right for staying in,
it is our method of isolation,
our following of instructions,
the immovable truth,
 
A means that surely will slow the rate down,
of the infection taking as many as it can,
to those undisciplined voyagers,
I sadly say, 
all the best to you,
for us all, protect yourselves and remain strong.
 
© 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
Image by Валерия Шарагина from Pixabay

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Poem: Panic – 16/03/20

Poem: Panic – 16/03/20

Panic mode,
the shelves stripped bare,
triumphant shoppers walk with their prized packets of eighteen toilet paper rolls,
the luxurious purple Quilton brand.
 
We have already rushed from your home,
with few moments to spare,
the opening time has already occurred,
there are barely any essential products there.
 
Hastily, you grab the items from the shelf,
long-life, of course,
why would we deal with anything else?

For we have been encouraged to purchase ahead for two weeks,
the panic,
the panic ensues,
ensures that we here in the supermarket,
at this usually sleepy hour.
 
Seven in the morning is now its busiest,
when the visitors will arrive,
the peak of scanning,
the competitive nature rises within shoppers,
perhaps all shelves of essential items will be stripped in time.
 
We are even more fearful of handling money,
of being within another’s close proximity,
we purchase hand sanitiser,
believing it will purge the virus from our skin,
we wash and wash,
but on occasions, the virus will be silently welcomed in.
 
Our systems were not made for this,
this is a pandemic,
do you hear me?
 
We need to take precautions,
self-isolate when required,
only leave the house when needed,
avoid close quarters with others.
 
And the ideal situation has commenced,
the virus is winning at this fact,
we are together, yet away from one another,
fearful of something which we cannot see
but which, if caught,
could cause saddening fatalities,
need we stay away from all others?

The question remains: 
how will we combat this insidious virus, 
this society-killing disease?
    
© 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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