We tell them that they’re heroes;
Stand outside and clap
But are they meant to die for us?
Is it enough to clap?
We praise their dedication,
Utterly selfless care
But where is that equipment?
Why is it not there?
Medics are not soldiers
They don’t sign up for war
They are not meant to die for us
Just to give us care.
We praise our gallant medics
But it’s plain for all to see
They need the right protection
Where’s the PPE?
Round and round the garden
Goes good Captain Moore
Round and round the garden
Then a few times more.
Round and round the garden
With his zimmer frame
Ninety nine, he’s near a ton
But he’s off again!
Round and round the garden
Not a man to quit
Wants to thank the NHS
Wants to do his bit.
Round and round the garden
Raise a thousand pounds
‘Stay at home’, we can’t go out
Round and round the grounds.
One step, two step, are we nearly there?
Seems he’s raised a good deal more
Off we go again.
Round and round the garden
Raise a million pounds
Breaking news – it’s twenty now!
Round and round he goes.
On, on goes lockdown
Will it never end
Cheer us up good Captain Moore
Or we’ll go round the bend.
You can’t keep down old soldiers
Men who fought a war
Round and round the garden
Will you do some more?
NHS our heroes.
You’re a hero too
Round and round the garden
On and on you go.
99 year old war veteran Capt. Tom Moore has raised more than £21m for NHS charities by completing 100 laps of his garden. He has captured the imagination of the British public and has vowed to go on walking although his original £1,000 target has been exceeded beyond anyone’s imagination.
If you would like to donate to the campaign, you can do so by visiting Captain Moore’s official Just Giving pageonline.
Christ can’t come this Easter
They’ve locked him in the tomb
Hope may spring eternal
But don’t come out your room.
The church is locked this Easter
The priests all stuck at home
We’re worshipping remotely
The strangest Easter known.
Recall poor Jesus’ passion
The three days in the tomb
Pray for resurrection
For getting out your room.
Three days can change everything
So what will these weeks do?
There’s going to have to be a change
I guess it’s down to you.
Starin’ at the same old interior standing in my own front room
Heard the news in a thousand ways, but it came out soundin’ ‘ just the same
Telly said, man, you better shun the world
I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to leave
But remember one thing, don’t touch your face or go near human beings
So I got out
Paris was a place you could hide away, if you felt you didn’t fit in
French police wouldn’t give me no peace, said that I shoulda’ stayed in
Down along the left bank, minding my own
But they said three or four was a crowd
Got me arrested for invading their space,
when all I did was breath fresh air
I was accused
I moved on
Down in Rome I wasn’t getting enough
Of the things that make a man feel alive
Pope gave a mass to an empty square, seemed I just hadn’t a prayer
Getting desperate, indeed, alone in a tourist attraction
Oh, my dear, had be outt’a there for the vatican won’t give it no sanction
I wasn’t ready for that, no, no
I moved right out east, yeah
On the Peking ferry I was feeling merry, sailing all the way back here
I fell in love with a Chinese girl by the light of an eastern moon
But Shanghai Lil she went and got ill, with a cough that just weren’t natural
We were sent below deck, a right pain in the neck
Stuck on a cruise ship forever
Stuck on a cruise ship forever
I firmly believed that I didn’t need anyone but me
I sincerely thought I was so complete
Seems now that’s how it must be
The women I’ve known I wouldn’t let tie my shoe
They wouldn’t give you the time of day
But life all alone knocked me off my feet
Now all alone I just flounder
And if they had the words I would tell to you
To help you on your way and cope with the life we’re now livin’
I couldn’t quote you no dickens, shelley or keats
‘Cause it’s all been said before
Make the best out of the bad, just laugh it off
You ain’t go in’. Any place anyway, so remember
Every picture tells a story don’t it?
Every picture tells a story don’t it?
Every picture tells a story don’t it?
Every picture tells a story don’t it?
Every picture tells a story don’t it?
Every picture tells a story don’t it?
Hello virus, you’re no friend
You’re so vicious, softly creeping
You sowed a seed that caught us sleeping
And the danger travelling quickly like a train
Still remains.
And in the ghostly streets there’s silence
Lost with my thoughts I walk alone
Silent streets all life has gone.
Obeying rules for getting out
Covering up my nose and face.
I cross the road or slow my pace
And keep my distance
Surrounded by the sound of silence.
And in the silent streets I saw
A dozen people, maybe more.
People nodding but not speaking
People greeting but not touching
People writing songs social media share
And no one dare
Touch for fear of virus
“Fools” , they say. You do not know
Virus like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Flee my arms arms for fear it reach you
But their words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the failing god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, “Stay at home
Don’t risk the subway walls or railings
Wash your hands don’t take a risk”
But still we walk, drink in the silence.
Once upon a time life was just fine
You thought it would last, but good times passed, they’re through.
Viral infection coming for all, feverish, coughing that’s how we fall.
Guess you thought they were kidding you?
And you’d laugh about
How they said it would all turn out
Now you don’t scoff so loud
You’re avoiding the crowd
Emptied the streets, it’s all so unreal.
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own
You and your nearest, stuck in at home.
Normality gone, kids out of school, locked down lonely
But you know you’ll have to get used to it
What if they caught you out on the street?
And now you’re gonna have to get used to it
You say you never realised
You’d only get out for exercise
All the people down on their knees
Staring into the vacuum…
(From an original by Bob Dylan)
Andrew Green's Poems 