The Black Cloak

It's like a black cloak around our world bringing misery and death
Virologists are saying " you ain't seen nothing yet" 
If only our leaders would look back, at how these viruses thrive 
They'd have got answers in history books and many would still be alive. 

It will soon be the norm for families each and everyday
To attend funerals of loved ones who have passed away 
And while adults pay their respects and kneel down to pray 
Children will get bored and around the tombstones they'll play. 

Every country takes action their way and will not be told 
If they follow the W.H.O. 's advice more would live to be old
But it's far too late now covid - 19  is thriving 
While we fight the virus with emphasis on surviving. 

Don't mix with others and steer well clear of the crowd 
Or it might be you that will be covered with a shroud 
To increase your chance of survival, ruthless you've got to be 
Even keeping a safe distance from your own family. 

Crime is now rife there's profiteering and panic buying
Not enough is being done and the death toll is rising 
Some impliment soft measures that seem quite funny
They don't care about you it's all about the money. 

We all need to take care singing from the same hymn sheet 
Or it won't be too long before the army's on the street
People will get mean and desperate in order to thrive
Pushing aside the weak and vulnerable who'll struggle to survive. 

Our health workers pushed to the limit administering care 
While the selfish among us strip supermarket shelves bare
But others are doing good things for their fellow man
No one knows if they'll get ill so do good deeds while you can. 

Written 21st March 2020.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Poetry Avatar
April 19, 2020 at 9:19 AM
These times are tough but so are we Tom...a fav
Cunningham Avatar
April 19, 2020 at 10:35 AM
Thanks T. S., the only consolation at the moment is the sun is shining and seeing others doing good deeds for others, you're right we are a tough species and we'll bounce back. Stay safe.Thanks too for the fave. Tom
Roper Avatar
April 12, 2020 at 5:25 PM
Tom, the actions of humans is depressing. Like piglets trying to get to the food first by pushing and shoving and a foul word " oink" every so often. I miss my children and I miss their hugs. Thank you for the wonderful compliment. On a day of Easter Sunday to get POTD, I am very honored. Have a wonderful Happy Easter to you and your family. Hugs Eve
Cunningham Avatar
April 12, 2020 at 6:00 PM
Thank you Eve, I hope you're well, the actions of some beggars belief, but also seeing a lot of decent people helping others. Hope you too have had a nice Easter. Stay safe and well. Tom
Lindley Avatar
April 4, 2020 at 11:24 AM
Your poetry always shines my friend. This fine poem. Humanity at such times shows both the good and the very bad in humanity. Another gem you've given us my friend. A fav... God bless..
Cunningham Avatar
April 4, 2020 at 11:30 AM
Thank you very much Robert, thankfully I'm hearing more good news of folk going above and beyond than the bad minorities we have amongst us. Stay safe. Tom
Knowlton Avatar
March 30, 2020 at 9:49 AM
Well penned Tom.
Cunningham Avatar
March 30, 2020 at 10:31 AM
Thank you Charlie, Stay safe. Tom
Proxenos Avatar
March 26, 2020 at 1:33 PM
You sure are right Tom - we are all in the same boat or on the same page - what is to become of us only God knows. Read up about the Spanish flu last night - it took three years for it to end. Exactly 100 years ago and claimed the lives of between 50-100 million people. Your poem surely tells of our frightful predicament. Blessings, Jennifer.
Cunningham Avatar
March 26, 2020 at 8:07 PM
Thanks Jennifer, I have too, young and healthy affected. too.. I wrote a poem about that one, real scary. People would get up in the morning and be dead by night. Stay safe. Tom
Ball Avatar
March 25, 2020 at 9:26 PM
Oh Well Said Tom. A very much needed message. God Bless, JB
Cunningham Avatar
March 26, 2020 at 8:04 AM
Thank you Judy, I could see it coming?, governments turned a blind eye worrying too much about the economy. Stay safe. Tom
Sergi Avatar
March 25, 2020 at 7:08 PM
Hi Tom: remember the time we took everything for granted. now somebody is cashing in on a portentous omen. You poem is a a great ominous sign!
Cunningham Avatar
March 26, 2020 at 8:03 AM
Thank you Ralph, it took countries far too long to wake up to the seriousness of it. They're paying a high price now. Stay safe. Tom
Raven Avatar
March 25, 2020 at 12:11 PM
Hi Tom, such situations do bring out the best and the worst in people. Hopefully, the best shall outweigh the worst. An excellent write on the subject, my friend. My belated congratulations on your Poem Of The Day honour. We shall pass through this outbreak one day, the light shall shine. A wonderful write, my friend. Stay safe, Tom. Have a wonderful Wednesday. Your friend always....Mike.
Cunningham Avatar
March 25, 2020 at 1:02 PM
Thank you very much Mike, hearing lots of good things that people are doing for others. Hopefully a solution will soon be found. Stay safe. Tom
Mcconnell Avatar
March 25, 2020 at 8:29 AM
Great pen Tom, you really tell the present crisis so well with lovely rhyme and flow too. Hope you're well and stay healthy Blessings, Gordon
Cunningham Avatar
March 25, 2020 at 9:20 AM
Thank you Gordon, we're certainly living through a dark period in our lives. Hope you and yours stay safe and well Tom
Messina Avatar
March 25, 2020 at 6:40 AM
We are living in scary times...Great write, Tom. Congrats on POTD Stay safe my friend. Charlie
Cunningham Avatar
March 25, 2020 at 7:12 AM
Thanks very much Charlie, never known anything like it. Hope you and yours stay well. Tom
Mcguire Avatar
March 24, 2020 at 5:27 PM
all the good and bad of the people in this world is showing its face
Cunningham Avatar
March 25, 2020 at 7:11 AM
Thanks Timothy, thanfully the good outweigh the bad. Tom
Lamoureux Avatar
March 23, 2020 at 9:27 AM
It’s all very disturbing. Congrats on POTD Tom. Keep safe. ;0)
Cunningham Avatar
March 23, 2020 at 10:20 AM
Thank you Richard, doesnt seem at all real, hardly any traffic or people about. We have to remain vigilant though, this is no winter bug. Stay safe too. Tom
Watt Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 11:48 PM
Tom, excellent insights into the dominant issue of our day. Congratulations for your selections as POTD ~ John
Cunningham Avatar
March 23, 2020 at 1:34 AM
Thank you John, let's hope we all get out of this in one piece. Stay safe. Tom
Marcum Wong Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 9:51 PM
I am back to congratulate you on POTD Tom. Great writing! You stay safe too my friend! xxoo
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 9:54 PM
Thank you for your return visit Connie, I hope you too and your family stay safe. Tom
Shaw Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 5:40 PM
Another brilliant poem from you Tom, it speaks volumes, glad to see hospital staff are being given time to get to the supermarkets, I bet no one thought of them while stripping the shelves bare . . .
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 6:41 PM
Thanks Indiana, heard today many nhs workers couldn't even get into the car parks because many getting there an hour before they could go in, so selfish, and many out and about with no thoughts for themselves or anyone else. Stay safe. Tom
Ifeanyichukwu Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 3:55 PM
Well done Tom, you made the point clear emotionally, practically and systematically. Hopefully we will all survive inthis health Chaos. congratulation on your POTD.
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 6:38 PM
Thank you Okonkwo, I think there will be many more fatalities before this is over. Hopefully a vaccine will be found sooner rather than later. Stay safe Tom
Dietrich Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 3:39 PM
oh so gloomy, Tom! But we really can't say just how bad it will get. I see this got POTD, so a big congrats for that. today we heard coins and paper money will no longer be accepted. This is very sad for the elderly like my mom who lives far away and deals a lot in cash. she refuses to learn computer so how will she ever learn to pay bills online? the scenario of kids running around tombstones is sad. They could get the virus just there with relatives!!
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 6:35 PM
Thanks Andrea, it's all well saying no cash but many of the elderly have never used computers, I fear many are not taking it seriously, many in the UK out and about not distancing themselves from others. China seems to have slowed it down so we should learn from that. But money from big backers and fear of losing votes means extreme measures will only come with a rising death toll. Stay safe. Tom
Smith Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 3:07 PM
Congratulations on your POTD honor Tom...
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 3:14 PM
Thank you for your return visit Charlie, much appreciated. Stay safe Tom
Awtry Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 2:49 PM
Congratulations Tom on POTD honors! Your poem captures the moment very well. Take care <3
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 3:13 PM
Thank you P. S., so depressing watching the news at the moment with no sign of let-up. Stay safe. Tom
Wolf Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 1:04 PM
Grim and grimmer. Let's hope it doesn't degenerate to cannibalism! Man is capable of anything. ~ Gershon
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 1:12 PM
Thanks Gershon, a situation like this brings out the best in people and also the worst. Stay safe. Tom
Proxenos Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 12:29 PM
We don't know Tom, it is everybody's silent enemy. A wonderful poem and exactly how the status of the whole world is at present. Blessings my friend, Jennifer.
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 12:45 PM
Thank you Jennifer, we're all in the same boat, hearing this could last for months. Stay safe. Tom
Roper Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 11:55 AM
You have nailed the response, Tom. Congratulations on POTD with this great verse. Stay healthy. Hugs Eve
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 12:44 PM
Thank you Eve, very dark times for everyone at the moment, take care and stay safe. Tom
Turner Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 11:24 AM
Trying times indeed, Tom. Congratulations on POTD honors. "So that ye shall know, I am the Lord thy God" God's message to the Egyptians during the 10 plagues.
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 11:28 AM
Thank you Daniel, I must admit if I was God I would not be too pleased on how mankind abuses this beautiful earth. Stay safe. Tom
Doll Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 11:14 AM
You have explained the starkness of it so well, Tom. Congratulations on POTD! Stay healthy and Warmest Wishes~ Warren
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 11:25 AM
Thank you Warren, there isn't any way to sugarcoat it, it's deadly It's even affecting healthy young people now. Hope you and yours stay safe. Tom
Gondolf Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 10:44 AM
A very poignant poem on the times we are now living in. Things have changed so much in the last two weeks, you wonder where we will be two weeks from now. Congrats on POTD, Tom, stay safe my friend. John
Cunningham Avatar
March 22, 2020 at 10:58 AM
Thank you John, dark times for us all, just heard of a young nurse in a large hospital an hour away is now fighting for her life, she had no underlying health problems which is really concerning. Hope you and your family stay safe. Tom
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