No Longer Next Year

 

 

2021 was next year

Now, it is no longer that

And anyone who can know

Knows this is a fact.

 

The outlook was bleak

Even for Barbados

That was handling COVID-19

Better than most.

 

It’s no longer the outlook

It is the current reality

And quite horrid, I must add

With our cases: a sudden 643.

 

And counting… more than likely

As we await results,

And what of the many expert opinions?

Therein is the tumult.

 

 

What I do know I will tell you

And this is the startling fact!

The fallout from COVID is no hoax

And there is no denying that.

 

I am not sure how it started

But it is clearly here

And it is hurting every nation

Ours and elsewhere.

 

The bus crawl was an accident

Just waiting to occur

Like so many other situations

To which I can refer.

 

Because we were doing well

People dropped their guard

And now we have this spike

That has struck us real hard. 

 

 

In just a few days

We have almost double our cases

And I have a sneaky suspicion

It was those mask-less faces.

 

Mystery surrounds the virus

And the vaccines as well

And “we are following the science,”

I hear the authorities tell.

 

What puzzles me, though,

Are the many different views

That all come from the same science…

Tell me, which ones are true?

 

What started in 2019

Survived all of 2020

And here at the beginning of 2021

Is still having a spree.

 

 

We were all hoping that 2021

Would bring us some light

Of the end of this COVID-19 tunnel

And the end of this fight.

 

Instead we have a new variant

And apparently not just one

And it appears it will be a long while

Before COVID-19 is gone.

 

Countries are on lockdown

For yet one more time

And this horrid COVID-19 pandemic

Is optimum on our mind.

 

 

A long road lies ahead of us

Filled with a myriad uncertainties

And the only constant it appears

Is this COVID-19 mystery.

 

2021 is no longer next year

It is now with us and full of fear,

Fear of a dreaded virus, of toil and care

With no end in sight or even near.

 

Meanwhile, adhere to the protocols

And protect yourself!

These simple bahaviours are the surest way

To stop community spread.

 

Stewart Russell © January 5, 2021