The Fear
 
There are no crowds.
 
Yet bodies
too near
send fear
to my fingers
almost dropping
shopping bags
to get out
of harm’s way.
 
Children
unnoticed
by parents
busy talking,
walking towards
my space
threatening
with dirty elbows.
 
The claustrophobia
of a breath
from less
than six feet
weakening
my defences
infecting
my curve.
 
Behind my door
I breathe
and heave a sigh
of relief
but wait for
a cough
an ache
and what will happen
 
When again,
there are crowds.
 
 
 
 
Beauty Lockdown
 
 
They day they all decided
staying home was for the best
every woman in the country
had to face another test.
For the ones who need enhancement
this would be a harder plight
and we’ve stooped to desperate measures
as there is no end in sight.
 
I missed my nail appointment
when we had to hide away
and my hair salon, they cancelled
they’ll be back  when all’s ok.
I have run out of foundation
and my front tooth has a chip.
It’s hard to keep this up beat
when you really look like shit.
 
I am “Zooming” all work meetings
fully dressed from half way up,
all the while hiding the dentistry
behind a coffee cup.
I have cut down my acrylics
so I’m still able to type
and I’m dying my hair purple
in the dark root combat fight.
 
In the end this is just silly
when you look at all our grief.
When we’re desperate for our NHS
to just find some relief.
But I bet when we come out this
(if we’re not all on the dole)
appointments with a nail bar
will be scarce as toilet roll.

 
 
 
Tiny Little Things
 
 
Your world
disrupted,
making room
for mine
in our tiny space.
 
Work, home.
My routine
unchanged
though work
and home
are now the same.
 
The difference
is deafening.
There is no telling
when routine
will return
for you.
 
Yet you take
my hand
on our daily walks.
Fresh air
and laughter
our vaccine
 
Life goes on
and in our
tiny, little space
our world
is a universe.