Little Jack Horner
sits in the corner
scanning his iPad screen.
He taps with his thumb
has a zoom with his chums
and thinks
‘How lucky am I?’
He hasn’t been out
just messing about
playing his favourite games.
He doesn’t miss school
thinks lockdown is cool
And laughs, ‘How lucky am I?’
Little Jack Horner
sits in the corner
gorging another pie
he puts in his thumb
pulls out a plum
and thinks
‘What a great life have I.’
Little Jack Horner
sprawled in that corner
doesn’t want lockdown to end.
Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
to see a fine lady who wears a white coat.
With gloves on her fingers and mask on her nose
hope they’ll protect her wherever she goes.
Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
to meet with a doctor who’ll do as she must
No rings on her fingers or bells on her toes
But lives in her hands and a difficult task.
No pouting, no posing, celebrity fans;
anonymous doctor in surgical gown.
No twitter or Facebook or instagram fun
just wards full of patients with a tough job to do.
So who will we value when all this is through?
Will celebrity matter? I’m not sure. Are you?
Lockdown is tough
if you live in a shoe
with this many children
and nothing to do.
Kiss them and feed them;
stuff them with broth
But when they are bored
that will not be enough.
Father’s on furlough
but no help at all.
They don’t have a garden
can’t kick a ball.
We can exercise outside
but just once a day
with strangers all glowering
‘Keep out the way’.
No sitting down
or enjoying the sun.
No open space
for the children to run.
As for home schooling
that’s kind of rough
with this many people
to concentrate’s tough.
Lockdown is hard
if you’re stuck in a shoe.
You’ve a nice house
so it’s ok for you.
‘A pause in the normal
rare peace and quiet’?
That’s ok for you
but our house is a riot.
Stuff them, feed them
fill them with bread
TV, the sofa
then pack them to bed.
Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard
and found that she’d run out out of stores
but what with the virus
we don’t like folk round us
and aren’t keen on shopping and queues.
Old Mother Hubbard tried online shopping
to see if they’d come to her door
but she’d lost the habit
and they’d too much traffic
and needed her custom no more.
So old Mother Hubbard
with her empty cupboard
knew that she must join the queue.
They kept social distance
‘twas all a performance
but what can a poor woman do?
A man in a mask helped her with the task
and somehow got all of it bagged..
It would need her attention
and much disinfection
then loading of shelves till they sagged.
Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard
and saw that she’d everything there
She had tins for all seasons,
food beyond reason
and happily loo rolls to spare.
Wee Willie Winkie
runs through the town
making sure the town folk
are all locked down.
Rapping on the windows
tapping on the doors
telling all the town folk
they’re better off at home.
Wee Willie Winkie
goes out once a day
keeps socially distant
well out people’s way.
Wee Willie Winkie
didn’t used to run
but now it’s in the guidance
doesn’t everyone?
Willie sees the townsfolk
going two by two.
He tuts and frowns
and sucks his gums
and frets about the rules.
Some folks break them
get the rules wrong
but Wee Willie Winkie
never thinks he’s one.
We can’t let up on lockdown
It’s helping to fight crime
The incidence of shoplifting
the lowest of all time.
Shutting all the shops up
Has really done the job
And no footie hooligans
Or loud unruly mobs.
They’ve put an end to bar fights
By closing all the pubs
Loving all the numbers
Except, perhaps, the deaths.
So focus on the good news
And don’t make too much fuss
It’s pretty hard for criminals
And not just all of us.
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?
Andrew Green's Poems 