PANDEMIC 2021
The bells of peace, rang loud and long, 5 million lost in war
But the pandemic about to break, would claim over ten times more
Some said it swept up from the south, others the American mid-west
But no matter what its origins, it was the century’s greatest test
It cared not for the lives it took, class, creed, or gender
To those who were afflicted, it was the devil’s vendor
Not confined by nations, it spread across the world
In spite of man’s best efforts, the deadly virus swirled
In 1918 we fought, under one flag, one nation and one cause
But this time it was different, each state had its’ own laws
Some people were complacent, in the case of public order
For what was OK in New South Wales, was illegal over the border
Most of us kept the rules and heeded what was said
Some said it was a conspiracy, but that didn’t explain the dead
Riots and anarchy, broke out in our own land
Fuelled by a wave of hate, few will understand
But even in these darkest days, there are rays of hope ahead
Vaccines and simple hygiene can banish the curse we dread
For when we thought, all was lost and we’d reached the end of our tether
We will defeat any foe, if we do it all together
By Tomas ‘Paddy’ Hamilton
11 October 2021
FILE PHOTO: Army Privates Kate Larby and Maddison Lillie, and Victorian Department of Health Authorised Officer Daniel Green on patrol as part of a COVID-19 Household Engagement Program to support the Victorian State government’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Photo by Private Michael Currie.
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