Page 4 - Issue 5 Cornwall Hill

POETRY

OUR MASKED

WORLD

By Janet Mapstone Image by Ivan Muller

Troubled eyes, uncertain glances.
To venture out? I’ll take my chances.
Faces covered by dispassionate masks
That hide the souls behind the tasks.

Grandparents shielded behind guarded gates
Of fear and quiet confusion.
Protected from the world outside,
Yet imprisoned by sad seclusion.

The nurse, the only contact that a patient may encounter.
No quantity of soap or spray
Can cleanse the chaos that surrounds her.

The student dealing with radical change
His college experience is decidedly strange.
Not the carefree days of youth as expected.
No room for rebellion.
Rules must be respected.

The teacher has moved from the classroom to Zoom.
Then uncertainty looms when some classes resume.
The ups and the downs are incredibly draining,
Keeping young minds amused, whilst some order maintaining.

The working mom juggling a number of roles.
"With hearts held together With the kids now at home,
Feeding mouths, soothing souls.
with frayed elastic, Between housework and homework, weekly shopping and shifts,

Our lives are on hold under A moment alone in itself is a gift.

measures so drastic." The spaza shop owner, overwhelmed and uncertain.
When will those in control choose to lift this dark curtain?
As the virus destroys his high hopes and big dreams
He must plot a way through the red tape and extremes.

Behind masks we can hide the torment inside.
Suffocating fabrics cover tired and drawn faces.
Layers of protection overwhelming the senses.
Hoping to turn the turbulent tide.

With hearts held together with frayed elastic,
Our lives are on hold under measures so drastic.
A nerve-racking time
Of restriction and friction.
Before grudging or judging,
Show grace. See the face.
Let us all stop and look behind the masks.

2 Cornwall View • Issue 5 2020
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Cornwall View • Issue 4 2019• Issue 4 2019
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