WHILE WE LOOK THE OTHER WAY

By Colin Pidgeon

This virus is vicious, and many have died
Intubated, sedated, our families have cried
But when does the fight for the planet begin?
(even though it may seem like it’s one we can’t win)
Just look at the fires that are sweeping our lands!
And see the koalas with burns on their hands

The turtles are choking on single-use masks
And disposable aprons designed for the tasks
Of keeping staff safe from the perils of Covid
(Our new Heroines, almost worthy of Ovid)
And whilst we want to protect those we love
What damage is done by the blue nitrile glove?

The ice caps and glaciers are melting away
Deserts are spreading as people hold sway
Cutting down forests to make burger meat
We waddle obscenely from too much to eat
Unthinking about all the problems we’re making
Is it any wonder the planet is baking?

So shall I become a virus denier?
Perhaps toss one more book onto the fire?
Take off my mask and stand with a crowd?
Demanding the option to all be allowed
To just take our chances, (and fuck the old dears)
We want to go out and enjoy a few beers
Put our unwashed hands all over the glasses
In short, should we all now behave just like arses?

The masks are required, the gloves, and the gowns
And the world needs protected also from clowns
Who say it’s not real, that it is a plot
To fool us, control us, but what I have not
Heard is anyone really try to explain
By controlling us what those people would gain

My heart is torn between such hard choices
The non-human animals do not have voices
The planet deserves us to give it a chance
But how can we do it in this circumstance?
We must build back better if ever we can
Accept that our problem is the one they call Man.

I have been heavily involved in trying to use the arts to try to get people through lockdown.  See www.dundonaldartcorridor.com for a whole list of what we have been doing in a community arts project.  Poetry came to me more when encouraged by John Munro of the Gorbals Writer’s Group to join a Facebook group called Writing Visionaries.  We have been doing a poem-a-day for #last100daysof2020poetry using various daily prompts.  I love the discipline of a daily writing thing.  It gives some shape to my day.  And it allows me to vent, or try to amuse, or just play around with words in a way that I enjoy.  And those things are all good for me.