A Poem for Freedom 2021 - Katherine Roberts
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The 21st of May,
one month to freedom
(or so our rulers say).
Three full lockdowns,
two stolen years
to stop us all from dying
(or so our rulers feared).
A single day equals
fifty-three million masks in landfill,
as many unseen smiles
and muffled protests
(that our rulers suppressed).
Enjoy your new normal!
Six people in a soggy bubble
drinking alfresco from takeaway cups,
fully vacc'ed yet tracked and traced
(our rulers say just in case).
While behind locked doors,
the lonely seek solace
from Facebook friends never met
and scammers they don't suspect,
conspiring to explain
what makes zero sense
in this infinite emergency.
(subject to change).
Statistics are fantastic!
Mightier than words
when used on the innumerate
to frighten and control
(as our rulers well know).
One month to unlocking
when the truth will hit the fan.
Might need to open more slowly,
find a positive spin
for economic meltdown,
negative interest rates,
a million new variants,
mental health tsunami,
vaccine damage lawsuits
scary revolutionaries
and rebel politicians
(now, where did we put that key?)
With any luck,
if we delay long enough,
we can blame the whole damn lot
on the Opposition.
Er, one month to freedom...
just keep following the rules, pleeeeaase?
*
Katherine Roberts writes fantasy and historical fiction for young (and older) readers.
Her lockdown novel is 'The Horse Who Would Be Emperor', in which the Roman Emperor Caligula makes his favourite racehorse a Senator and Consul... and they called him mad!
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The Horse Who Would Be Emperor |
Find out more about Katherine's award-winning books at www.katherineroberts.co.uk
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