If the sky was green would the trees feel blue?
If all hearts were sincere, what we say would be true
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If nature was kinder, there would be fewer storms
If politicians cared more, they would bring about reforms
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If hate speech was outlawed, there’d be no demagogues
If humans were nicer, we wouldn’t need dogs
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If the world was perfect, it would be prejudice free
If that is to happen, it’s down to you and me.
Racism is treating people as ‘others’
The opposite of acting like brothers
We are not designed to be the same
Whatever we are, we are not to blame
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Is it part of the human condition
To want to establish our position
In some imaginary pecking order
‘Us’ versus ‘them’ from a historic border
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It seems we have an inner need
Looking down on some other creed
To feel a bit better about our lot
Rejecting notions of a mixing pot
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But assimilation is nature’s way
Differences, ultimately, become passé
Though bigotry and injustice may cause delay
All will be free to be who they are, one day
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Until then, use well the power to vote
Campaign peacefully, equality promote
Practise humanity, value all life
Have empathy, turn your back on strife
Each of us makes our way every day
Spending heartbeats, uncounted confetti
None can be sure of the length of our stay
On paths more knotted than spaghetti
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Yet many hold their fate to be known
Faith tells them the final destination
This is their choice, their solid keystone
Let’s hope they do find salvation
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But as countless planets suns’ orbits steer
Through space and invisible matter
What lives such as ours exist elsewhere
Would they, such beliefs, bespatter?
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Might they argue that lifeforms, capable of morality
Should endeavour to co-exist in peace
Tolerance and respect, not divisive insanity
For the time we hold earth’s lease
I’ve been lucky to have had a wonderful life
Most of it with my lovely wife
She’s helped make true my dearest wishes
And doesn’t complain if I leave the dishes
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Together we’ve made our own way up
Achieving more than I dreamed as a pup
We’ve travelled to places; seen many sights
Not had too many pointless fights
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For our children, I pray for much the same
Without them seeking fortune or fame
Looking to themselves to make life good
Loving husband and wife through adulthood
We must get through this, pulling together
No cause to even consider whether
But what of the future, after the storm
What will be the post-covid ‘norm’?
….
When this virus has gone, before another arrives
People will pick up what is left of the lives
So much of what was usual before
Will not be so, for most any more
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A vaccine would let contacts resume
There isn’t one yet, so let’s not assume
Jobs will have gone, shops and businesses lost
These will only be part of the cost
….
Public health weakened, treatments delayed
Diagnosis of new conditions simply not made
More children and adults with teeth decayed
Increased obesity for many not weighed
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Councils struggling to make ends meet
Unemployed and homeless out on the street
Promised grants from an empty purse
Not enough to stop matters getting worse
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Society itself will become more fractured
Less money about, fewer goods manufactured
A bigger gap between ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’
Inequalities increased, demos and boycotts
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Lost schooling reducing chances for many
A shrunken economy another enemy
We must stay united, support those in need
Act for the common good, then we’ll succeed
Rowan is four months old today
Born into turbulent times
He doesn’t yet know the meaning of play
Or that Grandpa is crazy about rhymes
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He knows he is loved and has learned to smile
By watching his mum and his dad
To understand more might take a while
But for now things really aren’t bad
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One day he will walk, and also talk
And understand more about life
I just hope by then, I can rest my pen
Knowing he’s part of a world with less strife
One is an arbitrary killer, which puts no value on life
The other holds an unspoken tenet: that some people are worth less than others
One is without consciousness, the other without conscience
One attacks vulnerable people, the other makes people vulnerable.
Both exhibit a lack of humanity, compassion, and reason
One is invisible to the naked eye; the other, insidious, is hidden in plain sight
One will, with perseverance, eventually be driven away by the ingenuity of mankind
The other will endure in the dark corners of men’s minds, until a cure can be found for prejudice.
One sizzling hot summer’s day, an old brown donkey lay in a field that had once been grassy, but was now parched and scorched by the sun. The donkey wanted to find somewhere cool, but the only shade to be found was under a large willow tree that stood in one corner of the field.
The donkey stood and made his way over to the tree, moving slowly, so as not to become too exhausted. As he approached the tree, the donkey was shocked when one of the tree’s heavy boughs swished down to swat at the donkey.
“Stay away!” shouted the tree. This made the donkey back off a little and, when he was safely out of reach of the tree’s branches, he stopped and studied the tree with his big pleading eyes.
‘I only want to share some of your shade’ said the donkey. ‘It is very hot today and the flies are biting and driving me mad’. “You have a tail, don’t you?” said the tree. “What do you think that is for, if not to flick away the flies?”
The donkey thought this over and said, ‘Is that why you have branches, to flick away tired old donkeys?’ “Don’t be silly”, said the tree. “My branches are for stretching out into the sun, so that my leaves can gather in the sunlight to help me grow big and strong.”
‘But in doing so, your branches and leaves create shade beneath, and that costs you nothing ‘, replied the donkey. The tree thought about this for a brief time and then said, “You are right. Something that costs me nothing costs nothing to share. You are welcome to sit beneath my canopy and shade from the sun as much as you like”.
Bye and bye, in return, the donkey lifted his tail and shared his droppings, fertilising the soil beneath the tree and helping it to grow even bigger and stronger. This also cost the donkey nothing.
A thirsty fox came to a well along the road. He was just about to lower a bucket down the well to get a refreshing drink of water when a large frog sitting on the well wall spoke to him. “Good day Mr Fox”, said the frog. “What is your business here today, if I may ask?”
“Well, I am not sure that it is any concern of yours,” said the fox, “but if you must know, I am thirsty and need a drink from this well”. “Ah!” said the frog, “then it is just as well that we have met, for I fear that you will be disappointed. This well is quite dry, but there is another further down the road and, fortunately, that one isn’t dry. In fact, it is absolutely full of the most refreshing water imaginable”.
“Well there must be at least a drop of water left in this one after the recent rains”, said the fox. He picked up a stone and threw it into the well. Almost immediately there was a loud plop, as the stone hit the water. “See!” said the fox, “All is well; there must be some water down there”.
“I fear I have misled you slightly”, said the frog, “but I was only thinking about your health. The truth is that the water that remains in this well is quite unsuitable for drinking. It has somehow become horribly tainted and I fear that, if you were to drink it, you might become quite unwell”.
“Oh, very well” said the fox.” Perhaps I should walk a little further down the road and take a drink at the next well. I just hope that well isn’t tainted as well.” “Oh no,” said the frog, “the water in that well is as cool and clear as crystal. If you are thirsty, you would do well to set off straight away.” “Well I may as well go and see”, said the fox, and he trotted off down the road to the next well.
When the fox was well out of sight the frog leapt back into the well and joined its little tadpoles who were playing and swimming about in the well water. “Well now”, said the frog. “I have fooled Mr Fox and convinced him not to drink from our well, so we’ll be safe for now.” “Well done, Mum”, said the tadpoles.
Covid-19 is an uninhibited killer without conscience
It is also an effective teacher
It has reminded us about the value of friends and loved ones
It has emphasised the vital importance of essential services
It has demonstrated the selfless commitment of medical and care staff
It has put a price on individual freedoms
It has shown the cost of complacency in Government
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