Beyond the bluster and hatred
The anger and vitriol

Came a new dawn
Sunlight
Reason
Dignity
Honour
Quiet
Truth

We can breathe easily once more
No longer are we braced
For sudden shocks
Charged with adrenaline
Tense with fear

No longer are we fearful
Of who we are
And the differences of others

We know the challenges
We face
Now we can address them
With the resolve and understanding
That we possess
Everything we need
Within us
To overcome all obstacles.

And it will be
Our behaviours and actions
As human beings
That will define us
And our legacy

You are our friend
You have grown ill
And are facing the end
We are sending personal prayers
Hoping to ease your pain

You are our friend
And we are all thinking of you
We are sharing our pictures of you
From times gone by
That make us smile

You are our friend
Illness and death
Will come to us all one day
And we realise
How important it is
That we have
Friends

When I hear great music
I don’t need anything else

Not money
Not food
Nor shelter

The Music Takes Over
And I am carried away

Not money
Not food
Nor shelter

On a magic carpet
Into a plane

Not money
Not food
Nor shelter

Where my body moves
And my heart rises

Not money
Not food
Nor shelter

And my soul is set free
By the mystic entity

Not money
Not food
Nor shelter

Did I learn anything today?

As I took my daily walk
Around the sodden park
I noticed fear in the blackened eyes
Of those passed I
On the narrow pathways

Was it fear of contagion?
Fear of infection?

I wanted to stop
And talk to them
To say...
‘Don’t be afraid
It’ll be ok’

But the people
Walked on
Faces veiled
Preferring to cast their eyes
Downwards

Whatever power this lockdown has
Is draining people
Of their social instincts
And replacing them
With a mistrust
Of others

I have so many feelings
But the one that holds me now
Is exhaustion

So I must rest
And let sleep restore me
So that I can emerge
Into a new day
And experience
It’s many treasures

The rain fell and fell today
As if to wash away
The dirt from this world

The rain will fall again and again
Tomorrow

Until there are enough trees
To drink up the rainfall
Water will gather
In great floods and torrents
Laying waste to all in their path

The rain it falls
Like tears of the Gods
Weeping at what they see before them

Raindrops are messengers
Sent from the heavens
To remind us
Of what we must do