There’s Something in the Air
There’s something in the air, but we’re OK - it’s all over there.
The numbers are terrible, oh what have they done?
When and how had it begun?
But they are all locked in, contained – over there.
We flip the channel and continue, unaware.
And so we live and love and carry on
With work and school and life is good.
We are smart. We are sophisticated.
We don’t get viruses from pigs, snakes or bats.
Surely not us – we are better than that.
But this Thing in the Air is on the move.
Iran, Italy, Germany, France and Spain.
We lament with these countries of our European vacations.
But their land and systems and people are old in these wonderful nations.
An ocean away, oh they are in trouble.
We continue to live; happy in our bubble.
Now there are a few cases here, but just one or two,
We’ll isolate and track them, that’s what we’ll do
Of course we’ll be fine, not here – not like that!
Until, the numbers keep growing and soon realize,
We cannot contain this Thing in the Air.
Stop the planes, please stop the travel,
Anchor the cruise ships or it could all unravel!
Citizens come home from far and wide,
Cut short your trip and work, book a flight on the double
For oh we are in trouble!
Surely our life and jobs and hospitals will be fine,
We didn’t truly think it could all stop on a dime…
We didn’t understand the speed of This Thing in the Air,
It came swiftly and powerfully when we were largely unaware.
They can’t stop the world and markets; shut down our lives.
They couldn’t, they wouldn’t, wait! What? They just did?!
And just like that, it happened in a blur,
This Thing is not there, with them, it’s here.
Oh why couldn’t we see all along that we are them,
We always were.
In arrogance and wealth and security we were so sure.
And This Thing in the Air it isn’t just floating,
It’s menacing, insidious, dark and foreboding,
It’s filled the air and it’s oh so heavy!
Where is my breath? This Thing is squeezing my chest.
We gasped in shock and cannot exhale or rest.
It is robbing us of oxygen though we are trying our best.
Locked in our homes, behind masks in public –
Afraid to breathe for where is This Thing in the Air?
It’s formless and silent and everywhere.
On groceries? On our hands? DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE!
We better wash our hands while singing a song,
Again…and again…and again.
And so it goes on, an endless refrain.
The stadiums are empty, the mall a vast parking lot.
The restaurants are closed, the stores half full,
Not much to be bought.
The traffic is non-existent devoid of those who commuted,
The once bustling din of activity is now muffled and muted.
As I walk I feel a bit player in a frightening movie I have seen before,
Is this real? I want to run and shut it out by slamming the door.
There is this air of disbelief, it feels surreal.
Where is the director? We didn’t sign any deal.
We did not audition, we are not prepared –
There is no script and that makes us scared.
Surely we are on set, it’s beyond belief.
I feel the loss of before – humanity’s grief.
Most cannot go to work or it’s gone,
And there is no school, just what’s online.
And the markets how they reeled and plunged like never before,
As bleary eyed people watched in helpless, gutting disbelief.
There is no escape or reversal or relief.
We have no real plans for who knows what’s ahead?
We never really did, but now it’s for sure.
Our thoughts are not rational and full of dread.
For we are in that liminal space now, that place obscure.
The space in between -
Of what was and what is yet to be.
Family and friends cannot hug or even meet,
We remember the days we were too busy to greet.
Our ancestors before us were called to war and action.
Social distancing is our newly coined rally cry.
Not to arms but at least two arms-length between,
You cannot get closer not even by a fraction.
Or neighbours will report and police will fine –
If you are seen.
And the raucous jarring alerts come by phone,
Ominously short – Covid is here, STAY HOME!
Shopping alone in silence behind mask and scarf,
Quietly standing on taped lines to keep us apart,
We come home and sterilize the things from our cart.
And hope we have not brought This Thing in the Air –
Into our home, our cocoon
And safe haven for our troubled heart.
Have we done all we should?
Have we done all we could?
The experts can’t agree on what we should do.
With changing opinions, models and statistics – who has a clue?
When everything is all so very unknown and unclear,
How can we distinguish between fact and fear?
So we begin to realize This Thing in the Air
Is not foreign and not just a virus but fear.
It threatens our lives and all we hold dear.
It can consume us if we let it –
Listening to alarming news all day.
With predictions of epic proportions to rob you of sleep,
I suppose fear motivates, but it burrows so deep.
…and keeps us all in, self-isolated, self-quarantined –
Our new way.
But we are smart. We are sophisticated,
We must not panic and stockpile and hoard,
For many shelves are bare and supplies decimated.
More is coming, supply chains secure.
There is plenty for all, of that we are sure.
So now we must help and care and call.
We must work together for the good of all.
And so we live and wait for numbers to go down.
Hospitals called war zones of sick and exhausted in mask, shield and gown.
Don’t think of these numbers as mother, father, sister or brother,
It was much easier when they were the other.
It’s too much, but wait - what did I hear?
I wake up to sunshine and birdsong in my ear.
The world is still turning, spring is not in isolation.
It’s bursting forth in every nation.
There are birds in the trees and bright green sprouts,
In a world so shaken and changed it was easy to doubt…
That anything remains normal or as it was.
Yet the earth is continuing to awaken to life – and it’s good!
Just as God said it was billions of years ago.
I smile and turn to the light,
hope already stirring and changing my mood.
This light of the world has been there since its birth,
And put in motion loss and renewal the pattern of this earth.
We must acknowledge the need to get out and walk on the ground.
To see nature and life abound.
People confined together or in small spaces,
For health and sanity and exercise and joy.
Should walk in the open places.
The fresh air we dare not ignore,
But not to meet up with friends as before,
Respect social distancing we all must implore.
Who could have fathomed short weeks ago,
That parks and forests and trails would be closed.
Their beauty and freedom something we’re forced to forego.
We realized something perceived as a right,
Was really a privilege – gone over night.
So here we are reduced to food and shelter and health,
No longer can we cling to goods or position or wealth.
From a world that applauded and encouraged unabated industry,
We are now sent home, forced to slow down and just be.
Separated from the things you normally do,
You can appreciate and prioritize those who love you.
And if we are truly wise, we will all use this time,
And our trials and fears – to awaken us to life just like spring,
There is hope and a future – we are all in this thing.
Not bound to the clock or commitments of yore,
Untethered from identity derived from a job,
We can dig deep – and discover that there is much more.
Without the rhythm and cadence and rhyme,
We can discover what truly gives meaning for now and all time.
We can notice the elderly and sick and offer a helping hand,
When did we stop protecting the vulnerable in this land?
When eyes meet over a masked face,
Without words we understand and share
Fear, disbelief, determination, compassion and care.
We see ourselves mirrored in their eyes.
And so become the other, just for a moment –
This is what it is to love neighbour as yourself
This can make us wise…
To let love dissolve the walls of ego designed to separate,
This will truly make humanity great!
So now we breathe again.
We take off the mask and breathe in fresh air.
The fear, the virus – oh it’s still there.
Just keep it underfoot like your shadow –
Not looming behind you ever larger threatening to overtake,
Breathe hope and life and courage for God’s sake.
Because there is this Other Thing in the Air –
This spirit of love that is over all – it’s always been there.
It has infused creation with meaning and beauty and incredible resilience,
And creativity and power for healing and minds for brilliance.
And more capacity than we know for courage and hope and love.
That spirit of love and care will keep you two metres away from another,
And to lend a hand to neighbour or brother,
It’s in the love of father at home with children at play
And in the mother teaching and comforting each day.
It will give courage and strength and peace to doctors and nurses;
Who bravely walk to the front lines and do their rounds,
As they see the face of This Thing on the battlegrounds.
Inspiration allows manufacturers to retool equipment
(who knew that was a thing?)
To make ventilators, masks and gowns so all get a shipment.
Closed restaurants delivering free food to hospital workers,
Clapping, cheers and honks for support and encouragement heard these days.
And truckers and cashiers and factory workers receiving praise.
Each has always had an integral part.
But now it is realized and we give thanks from the heart.
So This Thing in the Air is dark and it’s light.
I see changes, improvements ever so slight.
Political bashing not quite so prevalent,
and grudging respect given where due.
Was the world every truly just red or blue?
This Thing in the Air has made more things gray,
And perhaps it’s revealed those colours were things we put on,
That everything is not a battle to be won.
There will be time later to judge when we know with what we have been dealing,
And we must take notice that in this time water, air and earth have been healing.
So now is not the time for anger and rage,
No one knew best the perfect timing to engage.
The time is not now for judging and shaming,
Or pointing or blaming.
We must come together and let a different game begin,
One where love and humility win.
I see kindness more evident than it’s ever been.
Collaborations between countries to help and share for the whole human race.
I see politicians offering immediate help – access to funds.
Could this be grace?
Banks and landlords are being forgiving and deferring.
Could this be mercy?
The world really has turned upside-down, done an about face.
…maybe it needed to.
But what of art and beauty and music we say?
Were they all just for a different day?
Oh no, it’s happening – it cannot be stopped.
Isolated, sure. But there are ways.
We have power and technology in these days.
We are sharing and listening and learning like never before.
With tools and apps and chats and Zoom.
The painter will paint and poets have pens.
And the music will always go on – old and new.
It is beating in the heart of every story of mankind.
It comforts and connects – it’s the tie that binds.
Song writers and playwrights and authors and artists of every kind,
Will give coherence and expression and meaning to this time.
This pursuit of beauty and meaning and rhythm and rhyme,
It sets us apart from the lesser things – a true echo of the sublime.
So we will dance and sing and write and share and work and care for each other
and make food and love.
We will survive This Thing in the Air around and above,
Until a fresh new breeze fills our lungs, loosening the fetter.
And we will live and laugh and carry on
With work and school and life will be good.
For we are smart. We are sophisticated.
…and we will be better.
When this is all over the work will begin,
To tally and evaluate and learn and discuss what’s been.
The doctor, businessman, statistician and politician together as one,
And devise a plan on how this should be done.
Isolation full or just partial? immunity? – we can discover what was best,
For each country did things differently than the rest.
But for now, in the midst, we carry on.
The unfathomable and earth shifting from just weeks ago,
Has gradually become more ‘normal’ if there is such a thing.
The weight is still there, it’s tiring but survivable we know.
We’ve been shocked and awakened,
Not knowing what life would bring.
We continue to pray for the sick, the lonely and suffering.
We want it to end.
But we find that life continues to bring us a new day,
And hopefully we will all find a new way…
Post script: I finished this poem 3 weeks into the Covid-19 pandemic on April 8th, 2020. We were under such dread and unknowing yet I had such hope for a better society and a quick ending of the pandemic. We are just over the two year mark now and can kind of see the end of this - as lockdowns are over and most restrictions have been lifted, yet as a society the pandemic only appeared to open and expose many other festering wounds. Perhaps soon I will write a sequel of where we are now, but I am under no illusion that it will be the conclusion yet I will ever remain optimistic for a positive ‘new way’…someday!
