Friday 13th March 2020

In mid-March 2020, as the Coronavirus pandemic took hold in England, care homes stopped allowing residents to have family and friends visit. Many did not generally allow visitors for well over a year. Within a year, whilst restrictions were still in place, both my mum and dad sadly passed away. I was able to make a couple of brief, limited visits to my mum’s ‘death bed’, and also to console, in a social-distanced way, my dad.

As far as I can recall It was an ordinary day I hated cycling that hill But it was the easiest way

Dad was settled in the home That last month I’d emptied his flat His room was opposite mum They couldn’t be closer than that

The visit passed pleasantly Nothing outstanding happened there Simply talked and prayed and spent Time together, our love to share

As usual I bid farewell I would return another week But none of us could foresee Next time we’d remotely speak

That was my last normal trip The last time we could hug and kiss And just be ordinary There’s so much I’ll forever miss