Pandemic Poetry by Basil Valentine: ‘When This is All Over’

When This Is All Over When this is all over, there’ll be singing in the church And each from one another, we’ll no longer feel to lurch There’ll be dining in the restaurants and laughter in the pubs And we’ll cease to see the need each week to clap for those in scrubs When this is all over, there’ll be a smile upon my face And folk may begin once more to act with charm and grace No mask required on bus or train, no fearful looks from strangers Free at last from stress and strain, afraid of hidden dangers When this is all over, I’ll dine out every night And relish every moment, each and every bite The wine will flow, the laughter doubtless ring And if I have enough to drink, I may even start to sing ! When this is all over, I might go on holiday A few nights in a hotel would be such a joy to stay A cafe lunch, a fine museum, oh the things we took for granted Before this dreadful lurgi, in all our minds was planted When this is all over, I think I’ll dance for joy For the solace of the lockdown has long since begun to cloy These groundhog days are tiresome, it’s a stale and phony peace One day soon it must surely, and forever CEASE ! – Basil Valentine