Olivia Mulligan

Poems on the Gate Post Olivia Mulligan

In the first months of 2020, the world came to terms with a virus that threatened life and society. Extraordinary measures were taken, the like of which we had not seen before. Airlines ground to a halt as international travel was stopped. Most countries were forced to institute draconian steps that had all but essential workers confined to home in what became known as 'lockdown'. For those who already carried the burden of health issues, extra care had to be taken to avoid coming into contact with anyone who might carry the virus.

Those that could, worked from home. Many of those who could not work, were furloughed. The internet, and particularly video conferencing, took on a new dimension. Children were home-schooled. 'Zoom' entered our daily lexicon. Among the myriad ways that people demonstrated their creativity, some turned to crafts, gardening, painting, sculpting, dance, singing... Some took up writing and one posted poems on the gate post.