Home » Poems » Ann Peck » Twenty-Twenty

Twenty-Twenty

Twenty-twenty, why didn't you abide
by centuries-old rules required to exist?
Why was it prudent to run and then hide;
protocol, you felt, was there to resist

Painfully we hid and Earth hung her head,
as Covid invaded, flaunting with flair.
Breath came uneasily, many were dead;
no place to hide, fear was filling the air.

A terrible legacy your year leaves, 
standing with famine, flu, polio's fears.
We shook ourselves from depression and grief,
buried our loved ones, dried most of our tears.

So, Twenty-One, what good news do you say?
Can we, at last, turn that chapter's sad page,
come out of hiding to sunshine and play?
Wait--Delta is shouting, "I want the stage!"

Move over, climate, our allies won't mind.
Refugees, craziness, anti-vax scam,
egotism, lies, hate everywhere we find
I'm beginning to see why Twenty ran.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Gary Radice

Date: 10/26/2021 2:05:00 PM

I really like your use of personification Ann in a poem that highlights the consequences brought on by Covid and man's (in)actions. It's inspired me to write my next poem based on the fragility of life and an earth out of balance. Cheers - Gary

Paul Callus

Date: 9/6/2021 6:36:00 AM

This poem is very expressive, Ann...and if this is the new reality, I wish I could fast-forward to 2025! We are living in a man-made destabilised world. ~ Regards // paul

Ann Peck
Date: 9/6/2021 6:51:00 PM

Oh, your words are so true, Paul. So sad what we're doing to the earth and our country. With no end in sight. Thanks for your comments.

Gordon Mcconnell

Date: 9/5/2021 12:27:00 PM

Such a fine piece penned so excellently Ann, describing well our current situation. Take care and blessings,Gordon

Ann Peck
Date: 9/7/2021 7:29:00 AM

Thank you for your comments, Gordon. Surely British politics aren't as flawed as ours! This is the Wild West on steroids! Blessings to you, too.

Ann Peck
Date: 9/7/2021 7:19:00 AM

Heidi Sands

Date: 9/4/2021 12:25:00 PM

It seems to keep on going like a freight train. Well written :)

Ann Peck
Date: 9/6/2021 6:47:00 PM

Thanks for your comments, Heidi. Yes, it goes on and on and now there's variant mu.

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 9/1/2021 3:01:00 PM

It seems like 2020 never really went away, it just came back in a new mask, if you will, very potent write, Ann~

Ann Peck
Date: 9/2/2021 4:07:00 PM

Thanks, Michelle. You're right, or 21 is 20's ugly sister. At any rate, we have a mess on our hands.

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 8/30/2021 11:16:00 PM

Ever since the beginning of time men and women died from infections like leprosy, swine fever, HIV etc. We need to be careful and obey the rules.

Ann Peck
Date: 9/1/2021 1:56:00 PM

Absolutely! I wrote a term paper on leprosy in college. A sad, terrible disease, which I think is now curable? Thanks for commenting, Victor.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 8/30/2021 8:36:00 AM

Truly, twenty ran! We must endure.

Ann Peck
Date: 9/1/2021 2:01:00 PM

Thanks, Kim. Yes, we must. Best not to watch the news, as I turn it on. No good bedtime stories there.

Jennifer Fenn

Date: 8/28/2021 10:00:00 PM

Hello Ann! Great poem! This fits 2020 (and 2021) to a T!

Ann Peck
Date: 8/30/2021 7:29:00 AM

Thanks for your comments, Jennifer! Yes, it looks like 21 won't be much better :(

Barbara Peckham

Date: 8/26/2021 9:09:00 PM

And there you have twenty-twenty in a nutshell. It is such a shame that, as you say , the last stanza says it all. It is too bad that twenty-twenty-one is shaping up to be a repeat. Still with the vacx -haters, mask-haters, lies and hate. When will we ever recover? You wrote this beautifully. Thank you for sharing.

Ann Peck
Date: 8/28/2021 8:08:00 AM

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Barbara. It's like we're unable to do anything right anymore. I think our minds are on overload. Just one word of good news, please! Take good care.