Pandemic Poems by Harry Gerber
A CHANGING WORLD
By Harry Gerber
We came alone into this pandemonium
Afraid to meet, to give a hug, or even just to reach a hand.
We stayed at home and locked our doors to keep what we feared outside.
And we festered in our loneliness… watched TV.
And when we had to eat, the frozen food was thawed and even the toothpaste was gone.
We reached out reluctantly to those who dared to help.
The grocery clerk, the driver of the bus, the kind masked kid who took my cart and wiped it with a cloth.
A stranger hidden by her mask said “hello” and asked me how I felt.
When I replied how slow the time passed, she said her phone became her life.
What a revelation!!!
I rushed back to my home and to my loneliness… and grabbed the phone.
Which came alive with relatives and even long lost friends.
The world came alive and peopled my hermetic life.
Like the world outside, persons spoke and shared their life with me.
And through it all we found, at last, our lost humanity.
ANOTHER WORLD
By Harry Gerber
I learned the news, as I’ve done for years
And saw what we have lost.
A nurse stood by herself and wept with grief for one she lost
While a man spewed rage at her… for what? She could not know.
A child placed his hand upon a pane of glass that kept him from the one he loved
But could not touch for reasons he could not know.
A man paced back and forth with anguish on his face.
His loved one locked within while he was locked outside.
A woman cried with mournful wails
And the world just passed her by.
And yet we all stayed behind our walls.
It is better not to know what we fail to understand.
The germ has entered our world and turned it upside down.
It challenged what we thought we knew and what we knew was wrong.
But hiding will not bring a cure, but time to understand that this old world we knew
Is forever gone.
So we must change and try to understand the fear, the loss, the great despair that
dominates our land.
I want to tell the nurse who used all her skills… and more… but lost.
I want to tell the man who cursed at her to know she tried her best
Which was why she grieved and cried.
I want the child to know that his mom was just as sad but she was locked inside.
I want the woman on the street to know that indifference was fear, not lack of care.
And to the man pacing up and down, that his love was there to keep HIM well
Not the other way around.
So!! What to do???
We pray that this old world we knew will pass and turn into another
With greater hope, much more love and, to all, eternal peace.
OH TO BE AT CANNING LAKE NOW THAT SPRING IS HERE
By Harry Gerber
To watch the ducklings all in line
Swim along the shore.
To watch the chipmunks gather seeds
And if we chose the perfect time
The woodpecker drill his holes.
Perhaps I would walk quietly along the dusty road
And spot a deer with her fawn
Both eye me warily.
Perhaps I’d sit out on the shore
At night when all the lights are out
Look up above and see a million stars
That shine like diamonds in the sky.
And soon, when all is still
A loon will give his haunting cry
That send shivers down my spine…
Another sign that all is well
The water still runs clean
And all God’s creatures still find homes
And all the humans still find peace
In this small piece
Of paradise.
THE FUTURE
By Harry Gerber
Have you ever stood below a hill
Or on some highway bend
And thought “what lies out there beyond?”
Perhaps there is some unseen thrill
Perhaps there is a friend.
Perhaps out there I’ll sense that I belong
And so your future lies ahead
A strange bright cloud of dreams.
An optimistic glance can be
The downfall of your present dread,
The rise of happy schemes
The ray of light you wish to see.
Look not for dark and stormy skies
Or for some worldly grief
What lies beyond is your whole life.
You can be loved, so don’t despise.
You can live long, though years are brief:
Your future’s like a rose
Where beauty grows if you but stoop
And smell and feel, and hope and see
Fantastic opportunity.
A LOST WORLD
By Harry Gerber
I went out for a walk today—not far–my legs were unaccustomed to the work
After a long winter’s idleness.
The sun shone bright, the cardinals sang in the trees
On either side of the path I took
And all seemed so familiar,
Just like the world I knew.
But unlike that world, the people on the path
Darted deftly to the side, and created such distance
That greetings were denied.
I do not know this world! I guess I’m just old fashioned
And no longer belong in a world so far remote
From the world I thought I knew.
GLAD YOU ASKED
By Harry Gerber
Yeah! I’m in my golden years,
Been here for quite a while,
But that’s alright, I’ve lasted well.
My body is still intact, except my knees are now manmade,
So the arthritis is in my back.
My gallbladder’s gone, they carted it away,
But the other one’s okay. It works well so that I only,
Have to pee some twenty times a day.
My eyes work well — the glasses help a lot.
The trifocals work very well except on either side,
But “up” and “down” work” well.
My hearing’s good, I hear every sound around me,
Even ones I wish would go away…
And that constant whistle has come back.
Oh!! And the left ear oozes wax.
My heart all right except for one section that doesn’t beat,
But three out of four is pretty good,
For an organ that’s been here so long.
It probably needs a rest,
And to lose one beat from four is about as good as it gets.
Oh well! The medicine’s working fine.
But my hair’s not grey, my arms and legs work well,
The false teeth blend in so well, you would not know they’re fake,
Until you see the fillings when I open up my mouth,
So I’ll just close my mouth and smile (to be polite),
And you will see only those in front,
Which are fake and dental white.
So my body is holding up quite well for all that it’s been through.
I can still walk and talk and hear and see —
At least at times I most need to.
So thanks to you for your concern,
I’ve answered all you ask — and more.
So if we’re done, I have one request…
Please help me open my door.
Oh!! Sorry!! You asked about my mind.
No worries there!!!
I do the morning puzzles each and every day,
And almost always finish them — at least by dinner time.
So my intellect is still there.
My memory seems pretty good.
I remember most of what I need — but the years ago are dim.
Excuse me while I take a rest,
And get a cup of coffee.
OK! I’m back and so damn mad…
I prepared the pot this morning…
And forgot to turn it on.
I don’t need to know my finances,
My son looks after that. I can’t remember why.
I think that I recall I paid some bills (twice),
And did not pay some others.
I don’t spend much — I rarely shop — so there,
Is little need for money.
But when I do, the ATM says that I need a code,
That I’m sure I never had.
The damn banks do all they can just to keep my money,
But that’s okay. If the machine won’t give me what I need,
I’ll just write some cheques.
Now what the hell did I do with them?
So my finances are in such good shape,
I can turn to other things.
My family and friends are the most important,
They make my life worth living.
I see Stan from across the hall at least three times a week,
What’s-her-name next door about twice a year,
My old friends on the fourth floor rarely come to visit,
And they cannot hear the knock I rap onto their door.
But that’s okay!! An old dear friend is moving in today.
She is a former neighbour,
I know her son’s name is Graham but,
At this very moment, I can’t remember her’s.
I’ll ask Tony. He will know and all will be well,
If what he says doesn’t disappear tomorrow.
So!! Don’t worry about my mind.
Like my body, it shows some wear and tear,
From a long life well lived.
At least, I know it’s long and I think well lived.
So!! Now that you are reassured that everything’s okay,
I’ll go and do some chores.
OOPS!! I just tripped as I was going…
Damn!! I can’t remember where…
TODAY’S THOUGHT
By Harry Gerber
I went out for a walk today on the path beside the creek.
And I was all alone but for a man and child who walked ahead of me.
They held hands and talked and laughed as the child looked up the man smiled down at him
And suddenly they stopped....and listened to a song and whistle high up in a tree.
They stood, rapt, at the beauty of the song ... until the bird took wing
And flew away about ten feet overhead.
“That bird was red” the child said with wonder on his face.
And the man looked down and said
“There is beauty everywhere , my son, if we but only look”
And they walked a little further when the child asked the man to stoop
And whispered in his ear.
So the man looked all around and spied a nearby tree
To which he took the child and hid him out of view
While he stood, with his coat spread wide, to shield the hidden child
From the non-existent thousand eyes the child imagined could see.
When the child was done, they walked on a while
Til the child saw a host of flowers growing in the grass.
“Could we pick some for Mom?” he asked.
“No!!!”the dad replied.
“Those are trilliums, and protected because if you pick them they will die.
But if we leave them they will multiply
And we can return next year and see how their beauty spread.”
So they walked on right to the end and watched the cars drive by
Then walked across the street.
That child learned a lot today.
He saw, and heard some of the beauty of his world
He walked and felt protected.
And he learned that beauty grows if we just let it be.
But best of all, the smile upon his face when he looked up
Was proof to Dad and all who cared to see
That he was greatly loved.......and would forever be.
ODE TO ANNE
By Harry Gerber
I know that I am very old and more than a little worn
So I sit a lot these days with little motivation
To accomplish more than the necessities.
That means that there is more than ample time
To conjure pleasant memories.
I can vividly recall when you leaped into my lap,
And that on our first date, when “Harry” lumbered down the aisle
From the back of the show that we attended.....
A shocking move from a young and pretty Mennonite
Who seemed so prim and proper.
And so it all began....our memorable long life together.
Through the long absences for school and nursing
When we did not see each other or communicate except by letter.
We talked and dreamed of our hopes and plans
To spend our lives together.
And so it came to pass...on that very special day
Which to me was truly Thanksgiving
Then there followed the many years
Of tours and continental trips, of cruises and the many cottage days.
We managed to have (and raise) three fantastic kids
The proof of our existence.
For many years we had great times...and sometimes not so good....
And through it all....together...we had many happy days
And cannot recall too many that were sad.
Now....near the end, it is important for me to say
That I love you now as I did then,
That through all the years our marriage spanned
You always were and still remain
My very special “ANNE.”
I’M WELL INTO MY GOLDEN YEARS WITH NOTHING MUCH TO DO
By Harry Gerber
​
I’m well into my Golden Years, with nothing much to do,
But sit down in my comfy chair and contemplate a life well-lived.
From that time so long ago and had a carefree childhood,
Spent with very few resources but all the love and care one needed.
We were taught to honour others.
And that your life was determined by your own efforts.
“You only get what you earn.” Was the credo of the family.
Where work was the solution of all one’s desires.
So we had chores to maintain a cohesive family.
We had many part time jobs from the early age of eight.
But none of that seemed onerous…that’s just the way it was in our home.
Where father’s dictum was “You get only what you earn.”
And so I earned…… an education, a career for which I yearned from childhood.
A loving and well loved wife who shared my life.
The great kids (the first a great surprise)
Who brought to us great joy and overwhelming pride.
So now I’m in my final days and in the reveries of all the years I’ve lived
I have only happy thoughts and very few regrets.
So to all of those I leave behind I would have you know that my whole life,
Was truly, truly Golden.
THE LOON OF CANNING LAKE
By Harry Gerber
I arrived in paradise today and sat out on the deck
To survey my wooded kingdom
And listen to the silence of the place.
I watched the rain drip off the leaves to feed the growth below.
And then I walked to the waterfront and walked along the shore.
A mother duck swam right along...her brood in line behind.
And we all reverently surveyed the beauty of the place.
And suddenly...a loon out on the lake sang out his mournful song.
And then again when no answer came.
Then one more time he sang to me
And said “I see you there. You’ve been gone so long.”
When he received no answer, he sang his song again
“I see you there. You’ve been gone so long.”
So I waved to him and gave a short reply.
“Yes! I am here. It’s good to see you too.
I’m glad too that you returned to guard our waters blue.”
He gave me no reply.
So, I waved again and sent the same reply.
“At which he stood up on his legs and flapped his mighty wings,
And gave his final message before diving neath the waves.
“Yes! I’m here to guard this lake, to keep this Eden safe.”
At that he disappeared and I was left alone to marvel at his work.
Now I must leave again but if all my plans come to pass
The earthly part of me will return
And stay for all eternity.
ALONE IN PARADISE
By Harry Gerber
Matthew and the dog are gone!
They left me to go home to see the vet
And Matthew to his work.
So I am sitting on the deck, and the only things around
Are the robins chirping in the trees and a squirrel scolding me.
A yellow butterfly seems lost constantly and doesn’t land for long.
The only sound is when the wind blows in the trees.
No motors! No noisy boats! No people shouting back and forth!
In fact there’s no one even talking.
Just me, the wind, the birds.
The peace and stillness overwhelms the one just sitting here...and waiting
For the next sound or sight
Which will once again proclaim
The beauty of this place.
OUR NEW WORLD
By Harry Gerber
Does anyone remember when
Your friends would knock upon your door
And come in and have a drink (or two)
And talk of many things you shared
And of more acts to come.
They gave a hug or shook your hand
And you gave the same things back
And all of this was done
When no-one wore a mask.
Does anyone remember
When you went out for a walk
You greeted all you met
And conversed about the weather
About shared friends
Of the day’s activities
And of your health (if they just asked)
And they didn’t wear a mask.
Does anyone remember when your home
Was a refuge from all evils
Real or all imagined,
When the door was open and unlocked
To any friend (or any others) who just wished to converse
Or to find out how you’re doing.
Your home was your active world
For you and all who shared the space
A hive of activity.
But now.........
The door is closed and no-one visits.
We entertain ourselves
Or simply watch T.V
Or merely sit and wonder how
Our home became a prison.