Our Stay Safe

coddled by home away from the infection
of strangers, freedom is a guarded walk.

Furloughed you never expected loss
of your job, your salary that paid

your mortgage, a roof over your family,
food for your kids. You expected to leap

back into employment once the difficult time
had been overcome by your keen obeisance

to the official advice to keep you and yours safe.
Allowed out you wait in queues, obey the notices.

Count your pennies, have words with the bank,
tell your children what they cannot have.

Feel like a bad parent, feel you let your kids down,
but you did your bit without complaint. Stay safe is unsafe.