Human Lockdown

As perceived by the animals of the world

by Shirley Ward

A terrible event happened in the year 2020
Humans were dying at a phenomenal rate.
We watched and were helpless all around the planet
As a virus so deadly could hardly be stopped.

It swept through the countries, as from human to human it hopped.
With no vaccine the only hope for humans to cope
Was to vanish indoors and bolt all the doors.
In Lockdown they called it – and waited in hope.

They locked all their cars and stayed away from each other
No cars on the roads, no planes in the sky.
All industry stopped and machinery halted
And nature took over where humanity faulted.

Miraculously blue skies and clean air began to appear,
With them all in their arks, and us in the parks
We had space and the freedom to reclaim the planet
And show them that they don’t own it!

The lambs in the playground meant for the kids
Jumped on the roundabouts, in for the spin.

The deer in East London reclined in the parks
And told us how good it was for humans to be in their arks!
Just sunshine, cool breezes and space inexhaustible
To wander and nuzzle and find peace with each other.

The goats in Wales are taking over Llandudno
Jumping on walls and padding round gardens,
Foraging food from bushes and flowers,
And no-one is shouting - as they are all in their towers!

In California the sea lions flap up from the harbour
And sunbathe in lines where space is no bother.
The penguins in Cape Town have the streets to themselves
And waddle and wait for the moon to caress them!

Our animal chat back is telling us all that the fish in Italy
Are having a ball! Swimming in clean water, detoxing them all!

In Adelaide Australia, the wallabies bounce, along clean wet streets,
Enjoying the freedom and space to embrace
The clean air and oxygen they are able to face.

In the Terai Lowlands in Nepal the rhinos can’t believe their luck,
As they chase the few humans left in the ‘muck’
Disobeying the rules to stay safe and lock up!

In Mumbai India the branches are swaying,
As the monkeys stay home and enjoy playing
In the hotel swimming pools left silent and still,
For them to play hooky at their will!

The lemurs in Merino Bay hover and gather in stillness and peace
To play, away from Humanity and take over the lease.
Whilst they have vanished from sight and into the night.

On the streets of India here come the elephants, trumping and screaming.
Lumbering along to find food at their leisure,
Along dusty roads in safety at last
What pleasure! What Joy! No harpoons or guns as in the past.

Here come the ostriches strutting and prancing
Like ladies delirious with their own dancing.
Let’s have a party and reclaim all that we’ve lost….
They won’t take any clatter, and will soon turn and batter
The ones who disagree with their ideas and chatter!

Animal markets, they scare us. Our colleagues despair.
You have no need to catch us, and kill us, and eat us so rare.
The cages you build for us fill us with horror.
The trauma it causes us leads to sheer terror.
We ask for compassion, that our freedom comes first.

But wait what is happening to the people inside?
They are singing and dancing obeying the rules.
Like social distancing until a vaccine is found.
They are clapping each other for the love, care and attention
All over the world. That must have a mention.

A new way of living, and loving too
That could be performed by humankind and us to.
We are sorry that so many are dying
But grateful for the cessation of flying.

The vision may be that Mother Nature is showing
We can live side by side, in a world strangely different, where no-one can hide.

Where abnormal becomes normal and living creatures together
Appreciate beauty and love for each other.
That for joy and for life we can truly strive
To respect life and the planet, and the special bees in their hive.

To breathe and be happy, for this is our call
That joy and life
Is truly there for us all.

On behalf of the animals of the world. Easter 2021.

IAHIP 2022 - INSIDE OUT 98 - Autumn 2022