They clapped for the nurses

And for the doctors too

They applauded for all the good

The hardworking people do

They lauded the skills

And the value of trades

They showed how needed

They were in spades

Then when life took off

And the weird time ended

All talk of skills and values

Too quickly suspended

Turned too swiftly towards

A narrative of hate

That devalues their worth

And seals their fate

Crushed by the power

That once elevated

Now sees them despised

Because they demonstrated

A cruel twist of events

A foul turning of favour

Shows politics up

Exposing their vile behaviour.

_

Karen Burns is 49 and lives in Coventry, England and she is a freelance journalist. Her interests are reading, poetry, writing reviews and she has a blog all about her daughter who has an eating disorder.