More and more of my friends in more fortunate countries are emerging from their lock-downs. I get pictures of happy children running down the beach, I hear of plans of parties, I see people’s hair getting trimmed and shinier, cave beards disappearing and track suits being dumped in the bin. Not here. If anything, we are adding more locks to the already heavy door that separates us from life.
The last few weeks have created a virtual solidarity which is now vanishing. Most inmates who get out forget the ones who are still in. It’s natural. As they go out to enjoy the beaches, the parks, the shops and some crazily lucky ones even the bars (!!), a small minority remains under lock, staring out the window with envy and quiet despair. Gone are the silly zoom parties, where you at least felt other people somewhere far away get you. Now they don’t. They are too busy going to the hairdresser.
Oh well. The crows remain.
Which inspired me to visit my old friend Poe (I might try to zoom him next, now that everyone else has fled). I have taken the liberty to update one of my favourite in the light of the inequality of easing.
But the Raven, much less lonely than I am, spoke only
That one word. All his loathing of the lockdown in one word he did outpour.
‘No more skype or zoom’ he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—
Till I scarcely more than muttered “This was all my life before—
Please don’t leave me, I’m still locked – zoom with you is all I live for.”
Then the bird said “Nevermore.”

Masterful. And it seems that whilst we in the UK are officially having our lockdown eased, in real terms I’m not sure that the changes will make that much of a difference, so you’re not entirely alone.
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Thanks:) I can do with a bit of solidarity.
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In Spain things are opening up. But people will be people, and they might soon be closed up again. It’s going to be a checkered summer, with some regions being able to be outside, and others closed up within four walls. We are too social a people to remain two meters apart.
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Yes 🙂 That will be a real challenge. Unlike in other places where- as someone wrote yesterday- the real challenge would be to make people stand less than two meters apart:)
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very clever; I hope you get out soon; we have limited freedoms in the outside world but bars are still closed 😦
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Thanks John. I hope so too. Although there comes a point when you are so used to not having what you want that if -by magic- you suddenly did, it would be scary and vaguely unpleasant:) Currently on that threshold. How are you feeling?
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pretty good thanks ; I’m naturally buoyant 🙂
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🙂 Nice. Hope you keep floating happily in these seas of uncertainty
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visiting this now I wonder how things are in Jordan and how you’re coping; here in South Australia we have many freedoms though we are still enouraged to practice good hygiene often and to socially distance
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Hi John:) Very nice to hear from you. Here it was better for a short while and now it’s worse again 😦 Cases soaring and lockdowns are back. Hard to imagine a way out of this.
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I feel for you, mate; I really do; I hope things get better VERY SOON. Stay in touch 🙂
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