COVID 8 -The Old Woman

I am an old woman now,
I know I don't have long to live,
I've been walking up this cobbled road
All my life, I even feel like I am one of these cobbles
Rounded and worn down by life and its wheels
Worn to a shine, down to my essence
But still hard
Yet this thing that comes on the wind makes me afraid
Makes others like me too,
People I have known all my life cross over to avoid me,
And I feel cold now and alone
I draw my shawl up over my head and face to conceal my mouth
Only my eyes see out
Oh in my eyes I could be young, I have hope and joy at life
My life is worth no less than theirs because they are young
I still cling to life, or perhaps it clings to me
This Corona Virus is not the worst thing I have seen
I've lived through the war
Humanity has been through tough times
And it will come through, though
Not everyone will make it
I doubt I shall, but I cling on

It is ten in the morning and I am making my way out
To do my shopping in a small town on the outskirts of Rome
You used hear the buzz and hum of the city machinery cars and all sorts
Going on, this was rush hour, busy business time
Now it is just us old foggies who are allowed out to do our shopping

I go in the shop with some trepidation,
The shop assistants turn around masks cover their visages, like some muslim women I think concealing their beauty, just their eyes, but they are welcoming enough, a little haggard in their carriage perhaps
Just then an old man brushes against me, out of the way he says
No manners I think, but then I notice they are all at it reaching up here there and everywhere
for to grab and buy, the shelves are clearing out
I try not to panic - stay calm I tell myself, just breath and walk,
I slowly advance trying my best to avoid the crazy actions of other customers,
An old woman is freaking out screaming at her husband to get this and that and hurry up about it

Half an hour later I stagger out of the swelter, of moist breath
Warm shop atmosphere
And breathe clear air, fresh air, I don't know
But I am on my own now
At last, squirrel scurries up into a tree
Self-isolating too? Nature has that down to a T
But what of me? I give a little cough
A bystander takes a side step away
And I can't feel sorry for myself
I'm too old for that I say, almost out loud
I walk on along the cobbled road
Pass the one way sign
That says wrong way
Turn back

COVID 7-The Cruise Ship House Keeper

The cruise ship is busy this morning,
Oh sure I'm on house keeping - lowly job you say
But you see, I see it all, the rise and the fall
Of the Rich and Famous
Of course some of them come here to get away,
Just your honest to a dozen good eggs, worked hard all their life time
To get this break, this tour
Then there are your millionnaire types, come here switch off, zone out
Lean back on the casino couch, and shower the good time gals with gin
That's the sin, it's not the money, its the greed
Its the blasé way they walk about
Money doesn't make him better than me
When we're at sea, we're all the same
No Jimmy we're not all the same there's this hierarchy of class on board
And we are the servants, they are the masters
That's the way it has always been

Ok well you know I'm giving my answer
Anyway I've seen things, would make your eyes bulge
Here's the thing little Li Yan in number 14 she's the concierge
She meets and greets all the passengers, they go to her with their complaints
I mean she must have broad shoulders for the things that they say
They want Luxury treatment see all the way
Real high standards, none of your third class lark
This is serious business these are luxury sharks

Anyway I was getting distracted, turning pages
Thinking my God this is boring this voyage is
Taking ages
And suddenly someone is vomitting in the bathroom
I step out the way just in time to avoid a dousing
In the avalanche of chunder
Next hour
There are complaints coming in to Mrs Li Yan
Another American taken to their bed, something must be done
Self isolation is her decree, contain, contain lock the cabin door
No one goes in or out except you and the doctor see
Change the bed sheets, make them comfortable
But for God sakes wear a face mask,
Yeah good one Mrs Yan, as if that is gonna help at all
Just do it Jimmy, I say alright
Next time I see her, I get a fright
She's pale as a ghost, with the lights turned out
She tells me return to my post, I do so in doubt
Where did this come from, now this is the ship from hell
Some infection that we're in the grip of
Is leading us well
Who knows where I'm not sure I do
Except for Japan
By that time will I care?

COVID 6 - The Virus containment team member 9 Wuhan

Its like the black death
Bring out your dead, they call, they call,
I'm in a bright yellow hazmat overall
Face mask covers me
Its been 5 days since the outbreak
So many people crying from behind walls
Wailling
Like the sirens of the ambulances through the day
Police sirens at night keeping angry mobs at bay
But we trust in our government - there is a strict
Chain of command, I do my job
I'm my bosses right hand,
He is his boss's all the way to the top
The Chairman stands untouchable above them all

He is God, this virus can't touch him
But what if it was sent by God to punish us for our sins?
What if? What if? That's crazy talk head down just do my job
No time to talk, "Bring out your dead" they cry again
I knock on the door of the nearest house
Ministry of Public Health to investigate Madam
May we come?
We go in any way, it is a scene of decay
She has hardly slept, only wept
Her baby lies still in the throes of death
Her husband is blue, vomiting in the corner
Lock it down I shout, and call the coroner
Coroner he says back don't you mean Corona?
I say ' You are sick Mr Chan for the sake of your wife and daughter
Come with me now
He follows me out like a walking Zombie
This is Zombie town, or it will be in about 24 hrs
There's no way out, half of them will get it, maybe me too
Oh Mother Oh chairman, what am I to do?

COVID 5 - The Live animal delivery team

Terry and boss:
Boss - We have another drop off, Terry- at the docks
 Terry - But boss, I don't feel so well now boss
I'm on my last legs
Boss - Pull yourself together man, its just man flu,
T - look over there at Mrs Choo
She's got it too
B - Its just a coincidence see Mr Wan he's a man
He's fighting on, he's strong so must you
Now step your shoe on the gas and let's get going

Down at the docks they take stock of the situation
B -The ships will be sailing soon Terry
So must you get on unload the wagon
Wheel it up on board that dragon
She will be smoking soon no flaggin'
Well on her way to the Middle Eastern Tavern

COVID 4 -The Thousand hand shakes of Mrs Choo

Mrs Choo greets Mrs Woo,
Mrs Woo picks up little baby blue
And shakes the hand of Mr Hu
And his wife Li Yan
Oh Li Yan is working on the cruise ship
Docked outside Wuhan
We're on our way over there,
They will sail to Japan
And then the Philippines
Many international traveller man
But first they want to see China's mainland

COVID 3 -Hagglin' for a Pangolin

Mrs Choo - I'll have one of your lovely Pangolins please
Mr Wan - Anything you like darling, how about this one here?
Mrs Choo - Oh no he looks a bit thin, look at his nose
Its dripping at the end, haven't you got another one? What about his friend
Mr Wan - No can do Mrs Choo that ones promised to Mr Chan
Mrs Choo - Oh Kung Fu to you too, and Chop suey onion
Alright I'll take him, pass over me Pangolin
Mr Wan - That ones a nice one, shall I bleed him right here?
Mrs Choo - Yes, yes no use in standing around hagglin'
Mr Wan - 40 dollars for the service and I'll even throw in a nice fruit bat, its been stragglin'
Mrs Choo - Sure why not its gonna make my family's dinner
I can't have my husband and son getting thinner
Mr Wan - That's right Mrs Choo, you don't know what's around the corner do you
Mrs Choo - Not these days Mr Wan, not these days, do you...

COVID 2 Live animal collection team Wuhan Market

Hey look friend another one of those dopey Pangolins
Come on pick him up, stick him in the back of the truck too
He'll still make someone a nice Pangolin stew
On the markets of Wuhan

Boss - what about the berries -you pick 'em you carry 'em too Terry

In the bustling streets of Wuhan:
Man its hot here, I hardly move for people-
Hey where do you want these crates of Pangolin?
Just stack them up over there next to the snakes
And the lizards, mind don't make mistakes

Wuhan, Wuhan, they're selling everything here
From live bats in cages to tigers from stones ages
Anything to increase your life span
Wuhan, Wuhan in the markets of Wuhan
You can buy what ever will make you hard, soft boil a live chick
In vat of bubbling oil
There's an old woman chasing chickens with a carving knife
There's a little boy laughing poking a monkey crying for his life
There are rattle snakes chattering, old hogs gaffawing
In Wuhan, where you can spend a day shopping with your wife
Buy it live, buy it fresh, just out from the forests, don't mind the pest
You want the best you can.. get? Then you come to the markets of Wuhan