The following is a poem, entitled “Breath of Life”, penned by Weyburn writer Jean Fahlman, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During this isolating social distancing surreal time, people’s mental health has been severely tested. People who live alone, and people who have loved ones in hospitals or care homes which are locked down, are finding the world a lonely, frightening place,” she wrote.
“The people who provide essential services are facing the threat every day in their work place, so mental health is strained both at home and at work. Putting our concerns down on paper, or knowing that others are feeling a similar loss of security, out of control, is a healthy therapeutic way to move through this pandemic and come out on the other side.
“This will come to an end. We will still be standing.”
Breath of Life
The World Held its Breath
While the coronavirus ravaged and roamed
With no respect for status or fame
Princes, paupers, doctors, nurses
All selected at random, no favour shown
The World Held its Breath Easter Week
Masked and shrouded in fear
The dreaded virus Passover raged
People isolated at home
Watched and prayed the virus
Would quickly Pass Over the ones they loved
In care homes, the most vulnerable
Were claimed, no family contact, no soothing touch
Cold and alone
The World Held its Breath
Surreal sameness of numbing days
No purpose to rise, no safe place to go
Energy wavers with work achievement gone
Robbed of renewing, spring, summer, perhaps fall
Uncertain if the idleness will ever end
The World Held its Breath
Dreary weeks loom, everything cancelled
Social distancing wears away resolve
Try hard to believe we are winning this war
At home waiting
For life and commerce to resume again
The World Held its Breath
Hoping for respite and relief
Mortgages come due, reserve money is gone
Business dreams crushed by the heavy virus foot
In the collapse of society
The government promises riches galore
From seemingly endless barrels filled with gold.
The World Held its Breath
But the unbreakable human spirit rose
From the ashes of fear
Generosity and creativity began to ignite
Angels and heroes appear where least expected.
When the restrictions are lifted
People will emerge from safe cocoon
Flutter their cramped wings then
Bravely take flight
Back into the real world again.
The World will stop holding its breath
We can all stop holding our breath
When the corona nightmare ends the
World Will Breathe Deeply
Life will go on, hard lessons learned.
