childhood,
is where you are schooled
and you learn –
to be a social actor

what a year –
it has been
am i cascading
through an opulent dream

there is a quietness
and a tillness
to our town
‘lockdown’ has pull back our town’s curtains
there are new sights and sounds

i must assume
my writing’s worth is rendered less
because of gender
and colour
should i be saying that?

i have not changed
other opinion
is just a frame
the picture,
remains the same

and people did not survive,
because are perceived –
as being, ‘strong’, or a ‘fighter’
or somehow, ‘tough’
and people did not die
because they did not fight hard enough

we need remarkable leaders
we need people
drenched in compassion
who reek of empathy
who the arms required to hold us

people look,
why am i in my car?
is this an essential journey?
am i going far?

there is no, ‘back up plan’,
no realisence,
no compassionate state
our public sector was sold off
and now the private sector holds our fate