"Look Of Despair"

Clara looked out of the window
A woman stood waving her hand
The woman was Clara's first daughter
But Clara did not understand
Bewildered she had many questions
Why were masks hiding faces away
Why was there no hugging or kissing
Had the care home gone into decay
The woman outside looked familiar
Though Clara could not put a name
With masks over everyone's faces
Everybody looked much just the same
Clara wished her husband Henry
Could visit her like just before
But dementia had fuddled her memory
Her husband had died in the war
The woman was still stood there waving
Why on earth did she not come inside
And why was she waving at Clara
And why had she suddenly cried
Clara sat down in the corner
Nobody would bother her there
She could still sit and talk to her Henry
Though she spoke to a vacant arm chair
Each day was the same but now different
No visitors came anymore
The TV was all about Covid
What on Earth was she still living for
Tears held inside started falling
She felt so abandoned and lost
The care staff were doing their duties
But warm hugs weren't a part of the cost
She tottered her way to the window
The woman outside was still there
Clara remembered her daughter
And she waved with a look of despair.

The End
By David Whitney     c2021