It was business as unusual.
Thankful for small mercies,
We praised The Government.
We heard the birds sing.
We parked up our cars.
We walked, we cycled.
We worked from home.
Business as unusual.
We let our hair grow.
We let our roots show.
We scrubbed our hands.
Business as unusual.
The pubs stayed shut.
The restaurants stayed shut.
The theatres stayed shut.
Business as unusual.
We Skyped and Zoomed.
We WhatsApped.
We split-screened.
Business as unusual.
We missed friends and relations.
We missed funerals.
We missed hugs and kisses.
Business as unusual.
We missed hugs and kisses.
We missed funerals.
We missed friends and relations.
Business as unusual.
We split-screened.
We WhatsApped.
We Zoomed and Skyped.
Business as unusual.
The theatres stayed shut.
The restaurants stayed shut.
The pubs stayed shut.
Business as unusual.
We scrubbed our hands.
We let our roots show.
We let our hair grow.
Business as unusual.
We worked from home.
We cycled, we walked.
We parked up our cars.
Business as unusual.
We heard the birds sing.
We praised The Government,
Thankful for small mercies.
It was business as unusual.
………….
Michael Durack lives in Tipperary, Ireland. His work features in journals such as The Blue Nib, Skylight 47 and Poetry Ireland Review. Publications include a memoir, Saved to Memory: Lost to View (2016) and a collection, Where It Began ( Revival, 2017.) A second collection, Flip Sides, is forthcoming from Revival Press.