Page 19 - St Barnabas Parish Homerton Summer Magazine 2020

Poem by Rhidian Brook See that leaf, Feel low,
Thought for the Day Feel late.
23/05/2020 Watch it blow across the Please stop saying,
yard: “This is great,”
Wake up. Syrup, wine, sugar, lard.
Breathe. When, weeks ago,
Thank God for breath. Great events The talk was mean.
Clean your teeth. Are best left unexplained Now, in the night,
Is that a cough? When in the fire: The sirens scream
Gargle with salt. It needs distance And the virus sneaks
Take your tea extra hot. To see the truth, Into our dreams.
Keep fear at bay Cooling with time. It’s hot.
And write a list. Two metres? Is that the fever?
Make it two years. Open the latch:
Take back control Leave snap judgements Lift the lever.
With soap, lemons, To the tweets of sages Offer thanks and praise
Paracetamol. And Job’s friends. To the ones
Be still: Who’ve time to reminisce,
Check the news, Know you’re not God. Or self-improve.
But keep it short: From dust we’re made, Or say “Goodbye.”
Radio for facts, A crash course
The birds for true report. From dust we’re raised. In metaphysics for them;
What next? Bread, flour, marmalade. Dusted in days.
O yes, exercise: They’re gone too soon.
Stand up straight, Late afternoon Their last question
Fill your sacks, The toll comes in.
Your stocks are low. Want to hear the same Sighs, “Why?”
Get on your knees and again? Wheat, barley, corn, rye.
pray, Worse than China,
Worse than Spain. So order your affairs
Facing Sainsbury’s: Please stop playing And complete that list.
Butter, apples, chocolate, This awful game. Wash your hands
cheese. Some say it’s over, And call your mum,
But that’s unfair That neighbour
Nearly noon To us and them, Friend, your son.
And so little done: When what we fight Tell them what
Feel inessential, Has no face, no shame. You always knew:
Feeling numb. It’s just data This life’s a gift;
How stuck indoors Doing its thing. That love is real.
Are deeds of love; “Dad, what did you do Its touch is true.
Ambition grounded, During the plague?” It is the thing
Hopes on hold. I stayed indoors, That gets us through
Do your taxes. Got little done This moment:
Paint the shed. And watched the wind It will pass.
Don’t think about So take deep breaths
What all this means. Blow through leaves and And fill your soul.
Keep death at bay live: The spirit’s willing.
With games and memes. Milk, pepper, salad, limes.
Ignore the pressure to You make that call:
achieve. Fail to focus, Soap, lemons,
Stare out the window: Want to cry. Paracetamol.