The Quiet Panic

The Quiet Panic by Moti Black April 2020

The Quiet Panic

By Moti Black

This is a quiet panic:

A sedate fear behind doors.

Behind screens and links that click;

That’s finally reached our shores.

Elsewhere, there’s cacophony:

Key workers risking it all;

Death with no ceremony;

Heroes answering a call.

In the quiet of cancelled plans,

That space between scared and bored,

I use the time on my hands,

To ignite dreams long ignored.

I practice skills, write my tome;

Send good wishes, clap at eight:

Cocooned safely in my home.

Late at night, I cry and shake.

Shopping trips with toothcomb queues

Remind me normal is gone.

Hurry home to watch the news,

Think: ‘crying emoticon’.

This is a quiet panic:

Measured in memes and death tolls.

PPE and numbers sick,

Stock levels and toilet rolls.

Lockdown hit as I was revving up for the art season. With all my exhibitions called off, I rather abruptly put away all my art supplies and jumped into my writing. I wasn't completely serious when I said I was going to have my novel finished by the end of quarantine, but now I am, as I only have six chapters left. 

The above image, minus the text, can be found on my RedBubble shop, here.

Hardback Notebook featuring Berwick Law by Moti Black