Page 23 - Everyone a Writer Anthology 2021

We all tuned in then it was announced
Lockdown
That one word that would change our lives
Send dread to our stomach
Stay home don’t go out
That was the message
The year the world paused.

The traffic died down
Schools closed
Shops closed
The death toll rose Day by day, week by week, month by month
Spirits and hope died People stayed in
People suffered People cried, people laughed
People struggled No longer seeing friends or family
The year the world paused. The streets were silenced
no one came out
The NHS got flustered The year the world paused.
Struggled with exhaustion
Yet they carried on fighting People lost jobs
Rushing around for everyone’s needs Places shut, people struggled
Rainbows became symbols Shops, hospitality
A symbol of gratitude for our heroes But the message stayed the same
Who struggled and survived The year the world paused.
Thursday night the nation clapped
Bringing communities together Then the message changed
But the message was still there You could see family and friends
Stay home Go out to play
The year the world paused. Hug people
Schools returned
Pupils sat doing work from home Places opened their doors
Parents became teachers Hope came back
Teachers set work But Covid 19 lingered
Pupils no longer saw friends Life was going back to normal
No longer had fun The country was about to play again
Schools shut
Mental health declined The numbers began to rise again
People longed to go back Masks became essential
To education, to friends, to teachers Schools remained open
But the message stayed the same But not for long
The year the world paused. The Prime Minister gave a speech

We all tuned in then it was announced
Lockdown
That one word changed our lives
Sent dread to our stomach
That was the message
The year the world paused.

Olivia Webb, Y9
Meadowhead

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