Terry Flood Poet Rhyme

Nineteen

[Wrote this during Covid in a ‘Ring a ring a roses’ frame
of mind. Wasn’t sure what archaic rules were in place around
the world, so sat on it. Basically… in England, ‘other people’
were ‘death on legs’. This may or may not sound amusing
but it’s pretty much how it was… laugh ye not!]

                                    ———*———

Keep your grandma distant for theres ‘nineteen’ around
If she dies don’t watch somebody put her in the ground
If it's short, feel lucky for you may get up and walk
If it's long the reaper’s raven may decide to squark

Air holes aren't at liberty when it goes here and there
Mister, it ain't normal to go breathing everywhere
Should you see me coming take a breath and amble on
And don’t you dare release it till I’m quite a long way gone

     Cough cough - too much wheezing
     Sniff sniff - most displeasing
     Croak croak - time for bed, Sir
     Till you’re dead or better

Grandma’s in the shadow of the steeple, yeah
Grandma’s with the other people resting, there
I wonder if they put her in clean underwear
I wonder if she wonders if we just don’t care

Grandma’s in the shadow of the steeple, yeah
I wonder if they took the time to do her hair
Maybe I could ask the ones who took her there
But they’re not taking visitor’s from anywhere

     Cough cough - too much wheezing
     Sniff sniff - most displeasing
     Croak croak - time for bed, Sir
     Till you’re dead or better

Grandma’s in the shadow of the steeple, yeah
Nearby, carers sporting masks and safety wear
Cannot stand too close; the law says, ‘Don’t you dare!’
She stands alone to watch them bury grandpa there.

     Cough cough - too much wheezing
     Sniff sniff - most displeasing
     Croak croak - time for bed, Sir
     Till you’re dead or better

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Kim Merryman July 11, 2023 at 9:04 PM Wow! A fantastic write, Terry! Creatively realistic and stark. Blessings, Kim M Terry Flood July 12, 2023 at 8:59 AM Thanks, Kim. I’m glad I sat on this for a while. Posting during Covid might have been tactless to say the least. Glad you enjoyed. Terry

Kim Rodrigues July 11, 2023 at 7:11 PM An easier read than during the height of the pandemic. Too many people took advantage during that time. My mom didn’t have covid but got ovarian cancer during the pandemic. I hated…hated! that she did not have us gathered with her as advocates. She died during the pandemic but not of covid. This is a great write, Terry! Fave… Terry Flood July 12, 2023 at 2:30 AM So sorry about your mom, Kim, you have my sincerest sympathy. I would imagine any covid write, be it serious or darkly humerous must strike a nerve for you so I can only thank you for being ‘big’ enough to fave my write. Terry