Jennifer Proxenos Poet Free verse

Vacation Or Staycation

How many families have sadly lost a loved one,
We seem to have become quite numb,
To the numbers, as they escalate daily worldwide.
How many people have lost their job,
For the first time, unbelievable, he or she silently sob.
Such troubled waters we have all gone through,
Middle class people who swallow their pride and queue
For food, their business went bust, too many dying
In hospitals with Corona, the world is afraid and crying
Masks are not essential said the President do as you wish
You will never hear me use the word Corona during my
Second term in office.  He never said keep your distance
Or wash your hands often, or that this virus is do or die!
We have all traveled a very rocky road this last year,
We lived and still live in despair and absolute fear,
But no one to guide the people, to do the right thing, 
For golf is the President’s thing!
However, due to Covid 19 some families have flourished
And do things together, they have slowed down, saved
Money, and only go out when inevitable to take a trip,
To the Supermarket, to the Pharmacy, or the Doctor,
Don’t eat out, or stop for a cup of coffee, not even a sip.
Many people work from home, we do, so relaxed, a revelation!
There is no holiday for us for a while, no annual vacation
Right now, but certainly an important staycation!
Christmas day will be with our son and his beautiful wife,
It has now become a chilled out type of life,
We sit in chairs in the garden four metres apart,
And enjoy our truly glorious South African weather
Carry sanitizers in our pocket and definitely wear a mask.
Do you still enjoy this kind of entertainment, people ask,
Absolutely, get used to it folks, this is the new normal!

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Phyllis Babcock January 5, 2021 at 9:13 AM Sadly this poem speaks the truth of how this past year was. Sad for all the loss of life, loss of jobs and misfortune of many. Praying and hope for a brighter year. love phyl Jennifer Proxenos January 21, 2021 at 4:53 AM Hi Phyllis, I know it has been so tragic, but somehow I felt a glimmer of hope a few days ago, why, it was like a flash of lightening, quick, bright and gone. So I am hoping, as my new poem says, that humanity will reign victorious by the end of this year,please God. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer

Angela Crabtree December 30, 2020 at 9:13 AM This has been one heck of a year as you have written perfectly, Jennifer. Hopefully, 2021 will will give us much hope and prosperity for the future :) Jennifer Proxenos January 1, 2021 at 10:42 AM Thanks Angela, glad you enjoyed the poem - we need 2021 to be better, another year like 2020 with all those deaths will depress the world. Happy New Year my friend, Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Harry Horsman December 27, 2020 at 12:54 AM Reckon your poem is a fair description of how it is, As for the new normal, Jennifer sincerely hope not...my concern is mainly with those that don't respect authority, that the world and everything in it is there's by right, they don't care about what my father and many others also, fought for. As usually what ever you write is so informative, and interesting..Just love what you have to say...Happy New Year, it will get better. Jennifer Proxenos January 1, 2021 at 10:39 AM I can understand your non-acceptance of the new normal and acknowledge that you are right, people are not accepting authority, but unfortunately this attitude is global, I wish it weren't but hopefully things will return to what they used to be, given time. Happy New Year my friend, may it be peaceful and safe. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Anitha Jayasankar December 26, 2020 at 9:29 AM Jennifer, how well you have reflected on the current situation.. it is so true that we all are so used to this staycation now... it is truly pathetic that many had to face so many adversities this year, but my heart goes out to those families that lost their loved ones due to the virus. Let's all hope and pray for a peaceful and safe 2021. Have a blessed day dear friend. Hugs ~ Ani

Peter Dome December 26, 2020 at 3:00 AM Sadly you speak the truth. Its not going to get better. people over here re not listening and taking precautions. You included everything here. Very well written, brought everything home to the reader. Very emotional, Hope you are ok and feeling better.We just have to make the most of what we can. Bible prophecy has come true. take care Pete. Jennifer Proxenos December 26, 2020 at 7:41 AM Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day Pete- blessed and happy. Yes some of the Bible's prophesies are coming true, it's amazing and scary both together. Thank-you for an awesome comment - yes I agree we must make the best of what we have and must do for at least for this next year, but perhaps the vaccine might make a significant change. Take care, be safe Hugs and blessings, Jennifer

Paul Callus December 26, 2020 at 2:49 AM This year has certainly been a horrible one, Jenny, as you well describe, but we have to rise above this stormy sea and unconvincing leadership and sail to calmer waters. May the spirit of Christmas stay with us as we draw near to the new year; perhaps it will be much better than 2020! ~ Warm regards & Hugs // paul Jennifer Proxenos December 31, 2020 at 12:35 PM Paul, from your mouth to Gods ears - I'm not sure if this is said in English, as it is Greek saying, and when one translates one language to another it never quite feels the same. I hope the same as you Paul, that 2021 will surprise us all in a hopefully pleasant way. Happy New Year Paul, Where we live it is exactly 2 and a half years away from 2021. Warm regards, Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Andrea Dietrich December 24, 2020 at 7:09 PM this is the new Normal, Jennifer, because we accept it and people believe all the garbage on the news. yes, Covid is very real, but very few people die from it. We should be keeping our immune systems strong, using Vitamin D, and we should not have had hydroxycloroquine taken away from us by proganda saying it was bad for people. Too many filthy rich are running the show. I hope the world will stand up to these demons. hoping for a better new year. Merry Christmas, Jennifer. Jennifer Proxenos December 31, 2020 at 12:46 PM Hi Andrea, I don't think that 3000 deaths a day in the USA is a few people dying - Covid is terrifying, but Thank God for the vaccine, which Elias and I will definitely be having, as soon as we are able to, however, we all hope that 2021 will be a better year. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Andrea Dietrich December 24, 2020 at 7:06 PM thanks for your several thoughtful recent comments. One more poet after you and finally I am caught up from having no time to do Soup the past few days. Even on MY staycation I am so busy. let me read your poem now. Jennifer Proxenos January 26, 2021 at 10:13 AM Thanks Andrea, it is a busy life for all of us, believe me I do understand. At the moment there is no staycation for us, business keeps us on our toes. I thank God every day! Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Richard Lamoureux December 24, 2020 at 2:07 PM These are truly challenging times Jennifer. I hope you are still blessed during this Christmas. hugs Rick. Thanks for your thoughtful visits. Jennifer Proxenos January 26, 2021 at 10:19 AM Thank you Rick your blessings are wonderful - we had an awesome Christmas, our Children, us and Ricky's wife's parents. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer

Kim Rodrigues December 24, 2020 at 7:05 AM This is our time in history, our lot. Why should we complain? We hope for the future’s gleam. We’ve so many blessings. Indeed I feel for so many with hopes that life will bring them good things shortly. Merry Christmas <3 Jennifer Proxenos January 26, 2021 at 10:26 AM We must be realists, for me that is following ones own perceptions on life, I agree with you my friend, we should count the blessings we still all have. We are here, communicating with each other and all our friends on soup, so miracles do happen. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Vijay Pandit December 24, 2020 at 6:59 AM Your ending line says it all. This is a thoughtful discourse on how our lives have changed and how we have adapted. Have a wonderful Christmas, Jennifer. Jennifer Proxenos January 26, 2021 at 10:45 AM We had no option, but yes, you are so right we have adapted and we have done brilliantly my dear friend, Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Lindsay Laurie December 23, 2020 at 8:06 PM Hello Jennifer … humans are so resilient, and during hardship tend to find a way through, but no one can predict what the new normal will be - have a lovely Christmas Jennifer - Lindsay Jennifer Proxenos January 26, 2021 at 10:54 AM Hi Lindsay, Life is unpredictable, we could be crossing the road, and a speeding car kills us, so the new normal I guess is what we are going through now, can we ever go back to as we were, will we feel safer, or not? Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Gordon Mcconnell December 23, 2020 at 6:55 PM Such a great piece penned with feeling and emotions Jennifer, indeed in many ways we may never feel the old normal again. But we must move forward with conviction and courage as vaccine hopefully will soon be available for our benefit. Thanks for sharing your skilful piece, have a blessed Christmas best you can, thanks for your friendship again in this past year, hugs and blessings, Gordon

John Watt December 23, 2020 at 3:03 PM The sacrifices made and losses incurred this year have been widespread: loss of loved ones, illness, jobs and businesses gone, weddings and memorials postponed or scaled down, celebrations done online. But as you write we have learned how to slow down, how to work from home, how to take creative staycations, and ultimately, how to stay focused on what's really important. A wonderful and compassionate write, thank you for enunciating what is in many people's hearts. Hugs and blessings ~ John

Victor Buhagiar December 23, 2020 at 12:20 PM Indeed the world as we knew it has changed and I'm not sure it will not change more. We just pray and hope for the best. Hope your Christmas will be serene. ~~

Alexis Y. December 23, 2020 at 12:13 PM Hi Jennifer, This is a ” new” normal that I don't like. I hope and pray that the vaccine works so we can get past this—an excellent poem and so apt for these trying times. So happy you get to spend time with your Son and his (your)family. Have a great day, my friend across the pond:-)Alexis

Joseph May December 23, 2020 at 12:07 PM A year of tears and pain, We can only hope that next year will be better, Wishing you and your family a safe and blessed Christmas

Paghunda Zahid December 23, 2020 at 11:14 AM You wrote it quite well dear Jennifer. Unfortunately, we can not do anything about it. We are not even sure if the vaccines actually work or not. Even if it works, it is not accessible to every person on earth. A very challenging year. Prayers mighy do some help

Paghunda Zahid December 23, 2020 at 11:11 AM And they are saying a third variant has emerged in England and Italy. So alarming. In our country, we had it under control till now. Like it was on peak in April and may, but then miraculously it was controlled. We had only 300 case in August and September, but now we are close to 2,000 cases per day. May we all enter 2021 without covid.. Amen

Tom Cunningham December 23, 2020 at 1:20 AM Been a challenging year for sure Jennifer, and they cant see light at the end of the tunnel yet. Have a merry Christmas. Tom

Akkina Downing December 22, 2020 at 2:35 PM Too much sadness too many have lost their lives, and unfortunately Christmas this year won’t be the same. But we can still appreciate our God for not all is lost... Great poem, Jennifer. Wishing you a Merry Christmas :)

Anne-Lise Andresen December 22, 2020 at 1:50 PM - Yes, it will be a different Christmas this year dear sister - Many have lost their loved ones - Many are sick ... some are alone ... we must try to reach everyone this Christmas - A year we will never forget ... most for fear and longing - (I can not say much good about the weather ... it's windy and rainy :) - I wish you and your family a Marry Christmas ... take care of each other ... with love :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)