Lockdown Learning

For twenty-four in each mad seven, we

—The people—held this truth self-evident:

That this world’s shell we could eviscerate

For cash and leisure as our oyster, sent

By science—plus, or was it minus, God?—

For us to loot: this home that we were lent.

But—horror!—Earth’s resources will run out,

As species die and plastic overwhelms;

As climate instability takes hold

And wealth demands—thus, every miner delves.

In Silent Spring, the deadly truth was writ:

“The people”—us! They “did it all themselves”.

A second problem faces us: mere flesh

Cannot forever grasp the steering tight;

Like our computer screens, we must refresh

Ourselves—one day in seven and one night.

Sleep deficit affects us all. Our Earth

Was made to rest, till darkness turned to light.

Was it a tragic mercy, this pandemic,

That locked us down and left us one small view—

Until our land had had its missing Sabbaths

All lived again, our sky repainted blue?

Until, by COVID, greed had been so broken

That we survivors knew to start anew?

It’s said the birds alone can build their homes

Yet leave the landscape as it was before.

In silence, we have heard their song—and learnt

Humility; now how can we restore

Our world—and mend our ways—before too late?

For, ‘What we sow, we reap!’ is God’s own law.

That law was written down by Paul, and holds

The wisdom of the One who made all seed.

As Master Sower, Christ will soon return

To judge each person and expose our greed—

And yet, He walked this Earth! May we find grace

At Jesus’ throne—He died to meet our need.

(George B. Hill, Jun 2020)