Waiting For The Second Wave

Apparently the virus is in retreat

Gathering its forces for another attack

Re-arming its battalions

For another go.

Now, I'm not an epidemiologist

A virologist or even a ventriloquist

I cannot put words into another's mouth

But even I can see

There is something wrong

With the logic this employs.

The virus is not human

It has no power of thought

So if there is a second wave

Will it be the virus that has grown stronger

Or our defences that are weaker

Will the desperation for a beer

A foreign holiday

A cuddle, a hug, a kiss

Be our undoing in the end

As we sit here waiting for the second wave.

©DJD 2020

Lockdown

I think I will miss this Lockdown

Not needing an excuse to stay at home

"I'm doing my civic duty,

"I'm not allowed to go shopping

"The garden centre is closed

"I'm protecting you

"I'm protecting myself

"I'm protecting everyone."

What could be better?

"I can meet people without ever going out.

"I've met new people

"More than I ever would

"If life was normal.

"More shopping?

"But I've already been out once this week!"

I know I'm lucky

I'm not on my own

I know that would be tough

Not everyone will have enjoyed

The isolation

The loneliness

The insecurity

The fear

The unknown

Not knowing how long.

But I can't help feeling

That there is much that suits me

And I will miss the Lockdown.

©DJD 2020

NO MORE STATUES

Elevated higher than you and I

On a pedestal

A plinth

A marble base

Statues

Glorifying one above another.

Whatever the cause

Whatever the reason

How is equality achieved

When such venerated persons tower above

Those they have served

Those they have led

Those they have exploited.

Do away with such icons

If we are equal, we are all equal

Let no one look down on another

Make no one look up to another.

Celebrate and commemorate

Events and actions

Turning points

In our history

But let us not elevate

Men and women to a higher status

Than they deserve.

Donald James Dolby ©2020

Imprisoned by your Prejudice

When you see a tree, is it not just a tree

If you see me, do you not just see me?

What is it that frightens you?

What is it that scares you so?

Can you not see the life inside?

Why is your mind so tight?

Closed to any other thought

Than the colour of the skin

Why, with all the things you miss

Are you so blinded by your prejudice?

What is that darkness in your heart

The evil in your soul

Do you not realise

How narrow is your view

Open up your fettered mind

And let your heart fly free

If nothing else consider this

Don't be imprisoned by your prejudice.

Break free

Will you break free

When you see a tree, will you just see a tree

If you see me, will you just see me?

DJD ©2020

SOME WORDS

Some words I did not know before

Agathism

the long dark tunnel, the light

at the end

let's keep it in sight.

Bummel

slowly meandering through life

or just

your daily walk.

Dolorifuge

whatever gets you through the dark

we all need our dolorifuge

taking away our sadness.

Heterocentric

our heterocentric 

frontline

heroes one and all.

Interfulgent

when the fog of life is thick

the interfulgent brightness

penetrates its cloak.

Laetificate

in these hours of darkness

in moments of despair

oh how we need a laetificating word.

Meliorism

optimism is hard

pessimism is dark

a little meliorism is what I need.

Queem

you are my queem

no, not my queen

we fit snug, calm and serene.

Xenodochy

lockdown may be tough

isolation hard

but xenodochy shines through.

some words I know now.

DJD ©2020

(with thanks to The Observer)

CHAINS

These chains, these infernal, invisible chains

Binding round our heart

Binding us together

Binding us apart.

These chains, these fragile chains of love

Of hope and trust

Fragile chains indeed

Trust in them we must.

This infinite useless fury surging deep inside

This helpless longing

This dead end road

Of futures now denied.

This hope, this delicate wind-torn hope

Gives us fortitude to dare

Distant vanishing horizon

Hope for us to share.

These chains, some day we'll shake these chains

Cast them all aside

Love will break free

From hearts imprisoned deep inside.

Donald James Dolby

 ©2020

It's Hard To Write Poetry When You Are Angry! (or maybe its not)

The words, the words, the words, tumbling from my brain
Flowing in a stream of frustrated invective
Fighting their way to my red-stained page
Can't stop the words.

So here they are:
Charlatan
Confused
Dangerous
Misleading
Fake
False
Empty
Sinister

Add your own
and put them in any order you like.

DJD ©2020