She gazed out of her window,
Watched as all the people went by.
She couldn't stop her tears from falling
As she silently asked "Why?"
It seems so long since her family
Came by to see her here,
But they've not been here for so long
She can't help but shed a tear.
She switches on the TV
In the hope to find a clue
Perhaps the news will tell her why
These visits are so few?
Then she hears the word 'pandemic'
But that was before the war!
She casts her mind back to that time
On the things that went before.
That was when she lost her mammy
When she was only wee.
This thing that's here can't be the same,
Please God, don't let it be!
Please don't let it take my family -
I couldn't take it ay more
I can't bear to lose my children
The way my mammy went before!
Just then she hears the telephone.
Picks it up and hears a voice
"So sorry mam, we can't visit you
This phone call's our only choice"
"Are you alright? We need to know
You're safe and well at home -
We'll come and wave outside your window
So you know you're not alone!"
"We will leave you a food parcel too,
All the supplies you need.
But we really want to hold you tight
When from quarantine we're freed."
"It's called 'Corona virus' -
So much worse than Spanish Flu,
So we can't come to visit
In case we pass it on to you."
But please don't worry mammy,
We're just taking safety measures.
We're all just fine but missing you,
You're the most precious of our treasures!"
"We'll come and see you the moment
That the worst of this has passed.
It will be so good to hold you tight
When this thing has gone at last!"
She hangs up the phone, sighs with relief
And now weeps happy tears.
Reassured, she can face it now
She can now control her fears.
She can face her isolation knowing
Her family is safe and sound
And she has not been forgotten
They will soon come back around.
Suzie Turner 19/6/2020