Unease

The sun is tepid, light of touch
It disappoints, but augurs much;
The Belgian Government is slow
Across which borders can we go?

Work and vacation lines are blurred
Life's a maelstrom, harsh, absurd!
We cannot shake off this bad dream
At every turn there's quarantine ...

But with a furtive step or two
More possibilities accrue
Though Culture in a myriad guises
Is still riddled with surprises ...

The days grow long with no respite
Many don't go out at night
Home cooking with a friend or two
Is quite the most we want to do.

Our carefree lives - beset by blight
Will everything we knew come right?
A little voice inside my head
Says we must watch out where we tread ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

R.I.P. Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

Farewell to the one and only
Film composer Morricone
'Once upon a time in the West'
Epitomised his very best...

Good, Bad and Ugly – all sublime
Italian wizardry each time
His impassioned, lilting, haunting notes
Garnered 70 million votes!

Ennio's enigmatic scores
Always welcomed with applause
Instrumental magic on large screen
For forty years he reigned supreme.

His oeuvre is sadly now complete
His genius though, is hard to beat
He's vanished to another sphere
But imparts joy to all who hear!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Over Afternoon Tea ...

My neighbour comes round for a tea
«Who'll put this world to rights?», quoth she
«It's so depressing, must we hear
How crowds of stupid people fare?»

She has a point; pubs open doors
Fools rush in and jam-pack floors
Microbes tiptoe over beer
The lemming parallel is clear ...

Now the WHO* reports
Infection stats with loads more noughts;
How, we ask, is Man so dumb?
How long will this circus** run?

It's summer and the hedgerows thrive
Birds and lambs rejoice – alive
We drink our tea, admire the scene
A world away from TV screen ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

* World Health Organisation

** Behaviour under COVID

Going Viral on 4th July?

Independence Day – across the Pond
Led by an independent blond
Festive events – fun BBQ!
Mass gatherings or new curfew?

We're all keys in the locks of life
We can choose to risk our life
Or keep our key deep in our pocket
Think Southern States where numbers rocket!

Slow and steady wins the race
Assuming that we mask our face;
Some cannot learn or just forget
The Virus - eager to collect!

But summer means let's meet and greet
Red-blue-white parties in the street!
If we our guard drop – who will know?
In two weeks – many will lie low ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

in COVID times ...

Opening and Closing!

I delve into the on-line news
What can I find that will amuse?
Brussels traffic build-up, tunnels close
(But COVID can't be blamed for those!)

Though ground staff has to learn the ropes ...
In terms of flights, the Airport copes;
Wallonia features on the news
And boasts of sites with scenic views!

Lock-down was easy - but Phase Four
Is piecemeal, like a big jigsaw...
Can I? Can't I? Mask – or not?
The Virus keeps us on the hop!

No more wandering about
It's «name and cell!» when you eat out
Although displays say «Welcome back!»
Rue Neuve trading is still slack.

The mood this July is restrained
Will many find their jobs again?
In bars the hubbub has died down
As many fear to meet in town.

Home drinking round a BBQ
Is now what friends prefer to do;
Who has a crystal ball to lend?
We wonder where it all will end ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Proceed - with Caution!

Through a glass darkly* we saw straight
Now mists start to evaporate
A prism still distorts our view
Chimeras look like me and you...

Beware of crowds - but go and shop!
Like ships in the night we dock
In bars and bistros and cafés
Furtive in the summer haze...

Beware Distrust, with a big 'D'!
It roams unhindered; though we're free
To fling some caution to the winds
And tentatively spread our wings!

Vanished our insouciance
We feel restrained, yet take a chance
'Out and about' is now permitted
Though COVID has not been outwitted...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

* From the King James Bible: 1 Corinthians 13 v.12

A Time Like Alice?

Think lock-down birthdays – they are new
Some are born in lock-down too!
This year is so unlike the past
Like Alice through the Looking-Glass* ...

Sports events are brushed aside
The sun shines but we stay inside
Like Pilate we must wash our hands;
Put off - our trips to other lands.

No summer sales though it's July
Mounds of stock unsold, stands by...
From dear friends we must stay aloof
Do all statistics tell the truth?

Free masks - but now a COVID tax?
The Government is short on facts!
Our lives more «virtual» than real
Poor substitute for how we feel...

But Alice comes back through the Glass
Is found asleep on summer grass;
How far extends this metaphor?
Life won't be as it was before ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020



* published in 1871