An Ode To 2020
If you’re anything like me,
You’re probably wondering, Why…
Whilst reading the news, sitting on the couch,
And living through a series of sighs.
Year 2020 has proven to be feisty,
A bit angry, frustrated, very much confused.
She must have partnered with Mother Nature,
Together they’re leaving us bruised.
The year began on an explosive page ,
January came with bushfires and smoke.
Rural towns and wildlife most at risk,
Australia could do nothing but choke.
We thought the days would never end,
And the skies would forever be hazy.
Summer had us cooped up inside,
Let’s admit – we all went a bit crazy.
The weeks slowly carried on,
With donations given and sacrifices made.
The world rallied behind the sunburnt country,
In hopes of offering the firies some shade.
Humanity revealed a side of itself,
That we had never quite seen before.
Mother Nature was pleased with what she saw,
Thus opening her skies and letting it pour.
Between all the volunteers and the water,
The fires slowly began to get doused.
Focus returned to those who suffered,
And support for getting them housed.
We joined together as a planet,
Did what we could to pull through.
We thought we had seen it all,
Then February came – time for something new.
Floods began flowing like rivers,
Torched soil could not absorb all the water.
A basketball legend was taken too soon,
Now watching over us with his daughter.
Beautiful countries in the Caribbean Sea,
Pacific Ocean, and South America began to shake.
It felt like a bad joke when we were told,
Oh that’s just another earthquake.
Politics then decided to join the action,
With missiles flying and a near World War III.
Brexit happened, the UK now on its own,
And Donald Trump as insensitive as can be.
It seems we got a break from the traumas,
With the news turning to plant-based food,
Quaden’s global awareness on bullying,
And lower CO2 emissions raising the mood.
We started to hear some chatter from China,
Something about a sick person who ate a bat?
Or perhaps it was from a seafood market,
No one will ever know the correct fact.
Fast forward a few more weeks,
Wuhan’s figures grew as we watched from afar.
The city went into complete lockdown,
No one in sight – neither human nor car.
They told us there was a virus,
That Corona was its name.
Also know as COVID-19 and “that lung disease,”
To us it was all the same.
In this beautiful age of being connected,
And yearning for physical touch,
This virus spread a bit too quickly,
And proved to be far too much.
South Korea and Japan reported cases,
Followed by Australia, America and more.
Iran and Italy escalated to the highest level,
Many countries began shutting their doors.
Flights have now become grounded,
We’re losing our jobs by the day.
Questions are being asked of, When will this end?
And, How long will we live this way?
In a world that was once so giving,
Selfishness and panic-buying are the norm.
Toilet paper and hand sanitizer leading to attacks,
Is this really how we’re riding out the storm?
It’s hard to know when this will end,
For it’s the end of March, with awhile to go.
As scared and paranoid as we all are,
There’s still lots of optimism we can show.
We got through droughts and fires,
Floods and wars and hard times before.
Let’s use this time to not only stay safe,
But also laugh and let the wine pour.
For those who have found themselves jobless,
Let yourself feel sad, broken and glum.
It’s not a reflection on you or your worth,
I promise there are better days to come.
For those who are stuck on their couches,
With no separation between work and play,
Make sure to take breaks and reward yourselves,
For the small little wins each day.
For those surrounded by kids on the daily,
Homeschooling or playing babysitter,
You’re role models to so many of us,
As we know you’ll never be quitters.
For those who are on their own,
Feeling lonely and like they have no one to call,
There are so many of us in the same boat,
Keep your head up and keep standing tall.
For those who are trapped in a house,
With a person they fear and cannot stand,
Do not be afraid to reach out for help,
We are all here waving our hands.
For those who are sick or know someone who is,
Or perhaps lost a person close to you,
I am so sorry for what has happened,
You’re living proof that this is more than the flu.
Regardless of where you live or the situation you’re in,
One major point is getting repeated.
Stay home, stay indoors, keep your distance,
Otherwise we will keep getting defeated.
I know this situation is tiring,
And life is looking dark and rough.
Let’s use this time to better ourselves,
And grow, instead of worrying about “stuff.”
May we all come out of this stronger,
With a new appreciation and love for life.
Let us learn new skills and rediscover our passions,
As we slowly get through this strife.
May we all come out of this looking brighter,
With hydrated hair and glowing skin.
May we all become bartenders and bakers,
But warning: we won’t be looking too thin.
May we all abide by the rules of our leaders,
And keep each other safe, healthy and well.
It’s a small sacrifice to make this go quicker.
It won’t last forever – only time will tell.
May we all find small bits of humour,
In the ways millions are coping with staying in.
Smiles and laughs will go a long way this year-
On that note, let April begin!
Wow how late did you stay up writing ?????