It descended suddenly… even in the midst
Of a poem, the healing of a pope’s blessing
For the times, God’s creation placed
In our power, the future redeemable.
It was a world already transformed by man,
A planet of information technology,
Cities that hummed and glowed with energy,
With their own morality of gain and waste.
Everything seemed to be working fine, bar
Climate change protest, fire and flood;
Even the commission of crimes, nothing
To imply Divine displeasure, or concession.
It descended suddenly… the Covid-19 virus
Undermining the sense of impunity,
Closing down cities, changing the context;
Overnight, a spectre of life or death.
