One Year Ago

One Year Ago

One year ago, the future seemed fine
And the world mostly was benign
Although refugee camps were there
It did not stop people drinking beer
Worlds apart, jetting, holidays abroad
No Thursdays all coming out to applaud
Locked in, coming out to say thanks
War zones distant , cruise missiles, tanks
We lived like gods, eating fine food
Cinema, night clubs, whatever the mood
And no expense spared, consumer land
But it was all a mansion built on sand
And over the year, crumbled to dust
And those treasures came to rust
Lessons learnt: for some perhaps, maybe
Just to see, touch, hug, a new baby
May be enough, simple joys are best
And time enough for our world to rest
Reflect, pause, look deeply at our life
As the virus cuts, uncaring, like a knife
Though all the barriers, reaching all
Teaching us that we may still fall
And we are not gods, not so great
Can yet be struck low by fickle fate
Time to remember, who we are
Time to shine brightly, like a star
Change the world, for better now
Renew again, and make a vow
Look hard and deep, and taking stock
To build afresh, on solid rock
That something come of evil blight
And let our light shine out so bright
Across the sky, across the sea
And there lies hope for you and me.