Little Did We Know

By Marion Riley

Little Did We Know

Oh 2020, how the world celebrated your arrival How we the residents of Arundel rejoiced Hugged, kissed, drank, counted the seconds If only we'd had a premonition

We could, should, maybe would Have gone down on our knees

Prayed, pleaded, begged, before churches shut down Before souls searched for comfort outside closed doors Fireworks lit up the stars while tragedy waited in the night shadows

Inside our cosy nests we celebrated in song and dance

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne We'll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne.

Little did we know life would never be the same again.

January and outside stood the discarded Christmas trees They left their leaves on carpets amongst discarded toys Their branches now devoid of glitter, lights and garlands Naked, yesterday's news, history.

Late March and we're living in a climate of fear A global pandemic. Wash hands, stay in, don't mix

Travel, sport, cinemas, no more Shops out of stock. Plants perish in Garden Centres We hide feelings and emotions in masks, while silent tears seep through their flimsy fabric.

Many have the virus, isolated in hospitals and care homes Alone in life, alone in death, No visitors. We bury our dead, stand at graves. Forbidden to touch, with even a handshake, the bereaved, No Requiem Mass, no Panis Angelicus..........

July 2020 and churches open for private prayer, Online Services, restricted numbers at funerals. Relief, joy, gratitude, for small mercies.

Two more lockdowns and today restrictions ease We go down on our knees in hopeful prayer

We can, shall, truly will Thank God for past, present, future blessings