To Whom It May Concern. A poem by Christine Seaforth Finch

But I feel I must write to you
regarding
somewhat of a problem we are having
in a little suburb in Derbyshire.

I am sure it is a simple mistake.
No one’s fault.
I don’t want anyone to get into trouble
but
you see
it is having rather an impact.

The issue is the sky.
It is blue.

I am not sure if the Pandemic Corporation ever
goes
outside
so I am not sure if you will quite get my point.

The fact is that a blue sky
on a Sunday
in April
is not, as the youth say, “a thing”.

And yet
you have insisted that we must all stay close to home
during this once-in-a-lifetime
blue-sky day.

I, as the youth say,
“can’t even”.

Please arrange your pandemic better next time – perhaps
for late November
when we can light our fires
and stay indoors
for fun.

Yours, etc.