History repeats itself. Came across this poem written in 1869, reprinted during 1919 Pandemic.
This is Timeless....
It was written in 1869 by Kathleen O’Mara:
And people stayed at home
And read books
And listened
And they rested
And did exercises
And made art and played
And learned new ways of being
And stopped and listened
More deeply
Someone meditated, someone prayed
Someone met their shadow
And people began to think differently
And people healed.
And in the absence of people who
Lived in ignorant ways
Dangerous, meaningless and heartless,
The earth also began to heal
And when the danger ended and
People found themselves
They grieved for the dead
And made new choices
And dreamed of new visions
And created new ways of living
And completely healed the earth
Just as they were healed.
And read books
And listened
And they rested
And did exercises
And made art and played
And learned new ways of being
And stopped and listened
More deeply
Someone meditated, someone prayed
Someone met their shadow
And people began to think differently
And people healed.
And in the absence of people who
Lived in ignorant ways
Dangerous, meaningless and heartless,
The earth also began to heal
And when the danger ended and
People found themselves
They grieved for the dead
And made new choices
And dreamed of new visions
And created new ways of living
And completely healed the earth
Just as they were healed.
Reprinted during Spanish flu
Pandemic, 1919
Photo taken during Spanish flu
Pandemic, 1919
Photo taken during Spanish flu
A new way of living may be ahead for us all.
ReplyDeleteI think it is.
DeleteAnd we shouldn't forget that during the Spanish Flu pandemic, up to 40 Million people died worldwide. Horrific.
ReplyDeleteLet's just hope this doesn't get near that.
DeleteYet we didn't learn did we? We just kept on multiplying and devising new ways to abuse the earth. And when COVID-19 is finally just a memory, that is exactly what we will go right on doing.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately you are quite right David.
DeleteThat was presumably written during the time of the cholera pandemics which moved slowly across the globe during those years. It was this which led to London's sewers and improved drinking water supply, so at least we learned something from that tragedy.
ReplyDeleteOnly time will tell whether we learn anything from this one.
DeleteThat's an interesting poem. I must look up and read about those other pandemics.
ReplyDeleteDitto.
DeleteGreat poem and amazing I've read similar poems and thoughts in this time yes We might change but it doesn't last :(
ReplyDeleteA great wheel that keeps turning and we keep making the same mistakes
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