Changing Times

The last few months have seen a number of changes. Now we can at least invite people back into our homes – so long as we remember not to get too close. We no longer have to meet folk in the garden or hold a conversation in the street. It is rather less surreal than it seemed at first, but it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see how our lives will be different for some time to come.

BC – Before Covid and Beyond

Remember when

we sat close to friends,

laughed and blethered over

coffee or a dram?

 

Now we have

Covid 19 perhaps

minds focus more

on things that matter –

 

health of the planet,

health of friends and family,

toxicity of capitalism, this

another virus spread world-wide.

 

CG images of Covid19 show

a delicate floral beauty,

almost psychedelic appeal, yet

this virus can’t be scrubbed,

 

can’t be rubbed away like

turquoise-greens of verdigris

that adds aged colour to

copper and brass heirlooms.

 

This latest virus hides

from view, threatens unwary

victims. Its political twin sickens

the economy, also takes lives.

 

Now, we look with changed eyes

we see, we hear, we love

differently; appreciate things

we took for granted BC.

 

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Plague & Pestilence

These are very strange times. We are faced not only with Covid 19 but also politicians that we can no longer respect. Those in government seem to think they can convince the general public that they are doing a great job, but  they are patently failing miserably and it is all too easy to despair.

Victor Frankl wrote – When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

Perhaps we have to change the way we perceive what is happening and look for the positives rather than dwelling on the negatives. We have seen the planet benefit from fewer journeys both in the air and on land. Now we see cleaner air in cities, we hear birdsong rather than traffic noise. Venice is seeing the benefit of far fewer cruise ships dominating their waters and residents are appreciating the quieter streets.

If we look to the natural world that can help us to stay sane. Thinking about the economic and political world too much is a sure road to depression. Focus on the beauty of a meadow with the sea of different grasses or the tiny daisy brightening the cracks in the pavement. Even the yellow haze of buttercups that can take over verges and gardens given chance. There’s life and vibrant colour to admire – don’t just think of them as weedy thugs!

Walking along a green lane is like stepping back into the past – the days of horse and carts. Those days too had times of plague. It wasn’t always an idyllic time by any means, but the human race survives and will continue to do so – in spite of plague and political incompetence.