Corona With A Capital C

carbonated soft drinks

in fizzy flavours, how eagerly

awaited were deliveries of

those bottles of tangy orangeade,

luscious raspberry or sweet cherry

whose brightest of reds

would stain teenage lips

as well as young tongues

my top pick, American cream soda

dandelion and burdock brought bubbles

rising in high excitement to burst

on surface of clear glass tumblers

while my handsome, wish he was mine

oh so tantalisingly handsome this beau

whistled down our garden path weekly

crate held in tanned arms, so inviting

royalty of pop clinking away

that famous seven pronged crown

stamped in black on white label,

the designer of drinks

Corona we loved you and I

yes I certainly had eyes for him,

a prince in my book

that c word now summons fear

visiting too close to home,

first UK death in our town

empty shelves, panic setting in

anticipating a rough ride

no vaccinations in sight

a pandemic in the making

reminiscent of Spanish flu,

a century past when the reaper

dug in, reaped his havoc

where misery spread with the dead

while the bell tolled for millions

in unmerciful and prolonged agony

Reviews

[.]

Yesss. It's quite frightening! The cases in China are falling while the rest of the world is on the rise. It makes one fearful and especially for the elderly we love and cherish. There will be some very difficult months ahead for all of us. I adore how your poem started off as a reminiscing about the soda's of your youth (i associate Corona with long necked beer bottles only!), then transforms into a reflection of the crisis of our times. Let's hope the world gets through this very quickly. A relevant piece of writing, dear Chris. Imaginative and thoughtful.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Jamila for your thoughtful review. You are appreciated.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Like Jamila I loved the beginning
Talks of fizzy thirst quenching drinks
Oh for a warn summer afternoon sitting on a lounger, with fizzy pop in my hand

Sitting in our lounge (chair almost worn out) sun shine through the window > fizzy pop now warm
Unable to go out . even to our enclosed garden _ No immunity germs are easier to catch

Oh well we are having a tin of meat from the stock in the camper - so almost camping

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Wild Rose. I am really nostalgic for the days when the fuzzy drinks were delivered to our home. Keep safe and well.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Actually it makes very little difference to us
Now retired, winter is a time when we spend most of our time in the house (Why go out in the rain?)
Its now when the weather is fine and all we have is the garden, or walk round the houses - we want to go down to the sea
Son is at home because of our age > He would have been delivering medication to care homes otherwise > County Council staff with cars

[Coyote Poetry]

Here in the USA. You can get anything you need. Thank God, many companies making things we need now in the USA. Took this terrible illness for us to learn. Create in your own country, what you need. Create job and opportunities for your people. My Detroit area doing badly. I wish the people of the Detroit area. Stay home and please keep the kid at home. Don't take kids to the big stores where sick people are walking around. I believe will get worst. Spanish Flu, second wave was the worst. Hello dear Chris. Today first warm day in Michigan. Seventy degrees in Michigan today. I will work on the yard today.
I hope you are doing well, keeping busy and be safe dear Chris.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Coyote. Tough times ahead my friend. Keep safe and well. All good wishes from across the pond.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

You too dear Chris. Be careful and stay safe.

[zainul]

It is corona time.It comes in all possible forms in our thoughts and conversations.The deadly disease, corona now dominates every part of the world.It is uncertain when the peoples around the world will get relief from this pandemic.We can just pray for the relief and stay strong together.
Thanks for sharing insightful thoughts on the corona issue.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks zainul for your visit. Your thoughts most appreciated.

Chris

[zainul]

You are always welcome,Chris!
Stay safe in the pandemic.

[Fairy Khan]

Amazing poem. Stay safe. Much love.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fairy. Be well my friend.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

Much prefer your earlier, much lovelier memories.
Besides, I am convinced COVID-19 will soon meet more than its match.
In any event--no matter how we shuck and jive--none of us will get out of life, alive.
Thoughtful write!

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Jimmy, yes I would much rather remember the soft drink of my teenage years. I hope you are right and this pandemic will soon come to an end. In the mean time I wish you good health and keep safe. Sending you all good wishes from across the pond.

Chris

[GrayHalwk]

Spell bound As if reading in layers of lost thoughts or multiple stories and fears. But as it touches home for myself as if looking I to ones own fears.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you GrayHawlk for your lovely review. Take care.

Chris

[H.E Watson]

I really enjoyed this poem, it seems that there is a divide in people taking this pandemic seriously and those who are not. Although its a massively talked about subject to date, I found this poem refreshing as the creativity behind it reminds us of its impact in a unique way! Thank you for sharing.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks H E Watson for your encouraging visit. Most appreciated.

Chris

[E.N.Ghaffar]

Amazing poem.im craving for soda now lol

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your response.

Chris

[Dave]

Knowing that the world is going through this doesn't help ease the feeling of being isolated. I'm at home, being retired, but now so is my wife. Her school may be closed for the rest of the year. What is most disturbing is that the medical people are screaming that they are running out of necessary supplies.
Our Exalted Leader had called it a hoax a matter that would be over in a short while. He still hasn't done many of the things needed to begin to seriously combat this thing. SORRY IF I'M RANTING!
Take care and for goodness sake stay healthy - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Dave. We areiving in troubled times my friend. All the best.

Chris

[Robert Trakofler]

It is a scary proposition... the worst part is all of the unknown, fear of, that is. I almost just want to get it so I don't have to sit around and wonder if I will get it. But I know I will get it... it is inevitable so says most World Health Experts they also have the lovely news that it will be going on for more than a year that's a long time for people to worry:( Here in the states we are so unprepared the government cleverly gutted the CDC program last year (Center for Disease Control) So as of yet we don't even have test kits distributed for the country:( this of course only amplifies that fear of the unknown I mentioned earlier. Corona in the states is a mexican beer brand LOL and I was joking a while back that this was going to be a serious Label identity branding problem for them. These are crazy times Dear Chris and my heart goes out to all of my Writers Cafe friends and a bit of worry for you all

[Chris Shaw]

We certainly do live in crazy times Bunny and many are rightly concerned about this new unexpected threat we all have to face. Keep washing your hands Bunny. And have a beer as well.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Chris, really clever poem, using the"C" word many times, but lastly in a negative sense, which is the most important, though i must admit your lovely descriptions of the old days when we would share our soda and beer and be fancy free about life not having to worry about a "plague" hitting upon us us is lovely, now almost suffocating us, and forcing us to retreat into solitude. Well done!

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Betty for your visit. I appreciate your time and your thoughts.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You're welcome!!