Covid Poems FINAL

Small book of
Covid poems
An anthology of stories told by staff and service users
at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Forward
Well - what can we say about the last 18 months?
It’s been unprecedented
It’s been incredidbly difficult
It’s challenged us like never before
But....
It’s been inspiring
It’s been rewarding at times
And is has made us proud like never before
The strength and resilience of our staff has been truly inspirational.
The way they have cared for our patients, their families and friends, but
also each other has been incredible - truly living our trust values.
This book of poems, which was the idea of Judy McDonald, our former
Interim Chief Nurse who led us through the peak of the pandemic, has
been written by our staff, service users and carers.
We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did.
Kind regards,
Mark Axcell
Chief Executive
Jeremy Vanes
Chair
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Contents
Foreword Welcome from Mark from and Mark and Jeremy
Jeremy
Poetry
One year of BCHFT
When the world came to a standstill
Crazy Corona Chronicles
Ode to Covid
A year to remember or one to forget?
Empty Chairs
Pandemic
Nurses’ Day 2021
White Lilac
2020
Covid-19 Day 62
Rallying our troops
Nursing in 2020
Welcome to My World
From the Editor - Judy McDonald
01
05
06
08
11
12
15
19
20
22
23
24
26
28
31
32
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At the heart of our
response you, our
bostin’ people.
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One year of BCHFT
So year one of BCHFT comes to a close
Our founding year of this new blooming rose
The merger was planned all documented on file
But a national pandemic came, that gave us a much bigger trial
It has tested us all - pushed us hard, in difficult days
To be our very best, to change and learn new working ways
But there is much to shout in pride, from the highest steeple
At the heart of our response you, our amazing bostin’ people
Coming together, caring, looking after one and all
Across our four boroughs everyone can stand tall
Thursday nights, everyone rose to cheer you, and clap you, and say
a Black Country “ta”
And I hope you get time to listen to the recognition for the heroes
you undoubtedly are
So to close my reflections on year one of our new trust
A sense of awe, admiration of so much pride I could bust
To watch new working relationships and friendships bloom
Just in a new way remotely, 2 metres apart or on zoom
To you in corporate, clinical, everyone has played a part
And I just wanted to say thank you - it comes from the heart
You have been amazing and our challenge will continue its true
Proud to be part of team Black Country - a first year thank you
Mark Axcell
Chief Executive
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When the world came to a standstill
At first I was afraid, I drove myself round the bend
I truly thought the world I knew was soon going to end.
Chaos in the shops, fear in every person,
But we knew the situation was going to worsen.
Work became a war zone, I became a solider.
Peoples loved ones dying, their worlds crumbling on my shoulder.
What is the meaning to this?? What is the divine plan?
How can this be allowed to destroy man!
The world came to a standstill, the world living in fear.
What is the point to all this? Have a look right here.
Communities united, people now show they care,
Churches reaching out to people who didn’t even know they were there.
Pollution has faded, rivers now clean,
Smog reduced and mountain tops now seen.
True heroes stepping forward, now being recognized,
Fighting for strangers and for them, sacrificing lives.
Busy schedules now empty, a chance to stop and reset.
A chance to breathe and on life change my mindset.
Sitting in the garden, watching nature do life,
The birds singing, blissfully unaware of this strife.
For the first time in my life, I see nature’s beauty prevail
And all my worrying doubt, in the wind, sets sail.
Spring bursts forth, flowers start to bloom
And suddenly I am reminded, it's not all doom and gloom.
At the end of every storm, there is a rainbow,
The rain will come, the clouds shall come but go.
My faith at first shaken somehow now seems so strong.
For I know God has been in the midst of this all along.
I still don’t know the answer, I still don’t know the meaning,
I do know however, on God, I am still leaning.
My mind repositioned, my faith now sturdy,
God still stands, powerful and worthy.
I will not be beaten, not my body or mind,
Inside me I looked, and strength I did find.
Nicci Hickman
Service User
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Inside me I
looked, and
strength I
did find.
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Crazy Corona Chronicles
Crazy Corona on our door knocks
And there is much frenzy in the shops
Paracetamol and hand gel are my goal
“Oh, and just where the heck is the loo roll?”
23 March and we have “LOCKDOWN”
And the city centre is just a ghost town
Asda queues long, 2 METRES pleeeeease
Only way to ‘kick ass’ this disease
The food bill has gone up and up
A trolley full of beer and wine to sup
And chocolate, sweets, crisps and cake
We are all getting fat – for god’s sake!
You see I’m trying hard not to YELL
As I am actually “the teacher from hell”
History, R.E., Geography and French
Not to mention aGGGGGGGh Algebra – so intense!
We binge watch “Money Heist” on Netflix
Series one, two, three and four, soon be on six
They escaped with 2.4 Billion and we ask – Just how?
And now all we sing is “Bella Ciao” (pronounced chow)
Corona virus isn’t going away
Minecraft, Apex, Fortnite, GTA
as well as the phone, computer and the Ipad
Oh my god, this is driving us mad!
When will the barbers open – anyone’s guess
Because our hair’s an absolute mess!!!
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Snip snip, the home haircut just does not look great
Clumps here and there, - hairdressers we don’t make
Looking for random washing to do - as it’s all completely done
Sleeping bags, blankets, curtains and cuddly toys - some
My son has no clothes, he has grown such a lot
It’s a wash and wear till they open a shop
Let’s go for a walk at 6.50pm
Beautiful Geese and Ducks and Oliver’s den
Nature has opened our eyes, - the honey bee’s hum
And the vibrant Pink of the Rhododendron
We walk every day (mostly) now – 2.5 miles
Woods, Lakes, Hills and mud, but no stiles
That’s approx. 149 miles on 69 walks
Sometimes bickering, sometimes long talks
Monopoly, Bingo and the Game of Life
Board games everywhere, keeps us out of strife
And simply “Snap” – find a pair
and “Who wants to be a Millionaire”?
Skype family Quizzes are so much fun
Three hours later and we are done!
Some of the questions are just hard
I mean do you know “5-10 years is the lifespan of a Mallard”?!
Importantly, thoughts with people – whose family they have lost
And the magnificent key workers, their health at a cost
Social distancing though - is here to stay
Please stay safe - Corona has not gone away
Tracey Salter
Medical Secretary
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A chance to
stop and take
a look at what
really matters
to me.
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Ode to Covid
Don’t forget your PPE!
That’s all we seem to hear
There is a reason for this though
The reason’s very clear
A mask can catch those nasty bugs
The ones you cannot see
Those nasty bugs that could eventually send you off to A & E
We have all made massive changes
Though we know it’s for the best
Coping with that dammed PPE
Has proved the biggest test
Covid will be with us for quite a while it’s said
And many of us had to sacrifice that holiday in the MED
A small price to pay don’t you think, when all is said and done
We’ve many more happy years to catch up on some fun
Covid will not break us
But make a stronger link
If anything it has given us the chance to stop and think
A chance to stop and take a look at what really matters to me
Family, friends, work colleagues, but most of all a stronger me.
Angie Millward
Senior Administrator for Nurse Development
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A year to remember or a year to forget?
A year to remember, or maybe forget,
2020, perfect vision, as our imperfect world
Did not envision a virus unfurled.
‘God help us’ we cried
As it swept through humanity, closed down society,
In the path of the virus, it almost destroyed us,
Impairing our sight, despairing our days
As we look through the haze,
No trace of normality wherever we gaze,
Blinded by assumed superiority
Exposed to our own vulnerability,
WE REALLY DIDN’T SEE IT COMING!
The future is clouded but clouds dissipate,
For hope springs eternal, it’s never too late
To envision the time when things will be better,
Friendships and family treasured forever.
We’ll value what’s here in front of our eyes
No need from now on to look up to the skies.
The scales have been lifted, horizons brought near,
Our goals may have shifted, our vision more clear.
Let’s be kind and not judge the behaviour of others,
Let’s all pull together as sisters and brothers.
Carol Hurley
Associate Hospital Manager
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The help that I
bring, to keep
things flowing.
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Empty Chairs
Empty chairs,
And empty desks
Empty stairs,
On empty decks
No clattering keys,
The phones fall silent
I don’t feel at ease,
On this desert island
Isolation,
Is the new norm
Desolation,
In a different form
Nobody to share,
A cup of tea
The kitchen is bare,
Of staff you see
No friendly voices,
To cheer you up
Your only choice is,
A single cup
A one man band,
Holding the fort
Lending a hand,
For those distraught
This is the thing,
That keeps me going
The help that I bring,
To keep things flowing
Making sure,
The support is there
Especially for,
Those within our care
David Stocks
Vocational Specialist
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Pandemic
Each Year we prepare for flu season
‘This year will be the worst’ they say for some reason
We are long overdue a global pandemic
But we are prepared no need to panic
The pandemic policy we review each year
And each flu season we survive we let out a cheer
There is talk of a new virus?
But we’re ok we have policies to support us
The pandemic hits at a phenomenal pace
Like startled bunnies we stare into space
Guidance is coming through by the minute
Getting it to staff is the challenge we’re facing
It’s a marathon we running make sure you pace
But this is a different kind of race
Wave 1 we are all cheered
And the decks have all been cleared
Wave 2 it’s business as usual
We can’t afford to become casual
Wave 3 We are tired but we keep up pace
We are still running the race
We had all the guidance and polices a plenty
But nothing prepared us for 2020!
Judy McDonald
Interim Chief Nurse
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Nurses’ Day 2021
Being a nurse is more than a job
It’s a passion
A vocation
Kindness oozes from nurses across
the nation
It’s having a desire to help and care
And when friends and family can’t be
We are always there
It’s treating people with dignity and
respect
And having an instinct to want to
protect
It’s walking over 10,000 steps each
day
But never letting our tiredness get in
the way
It’s listening when people want to talk
And talking when people want to
listen
We see people at their best and their
worst
And as an individual is how they are
all nurse
We provide strength to our patients
when they need it the most
And make endless rounds of tea and
toast!
In 2020 nurses arose
But endured a year of so many lows
We lost colleagues and friends and
loved ones too
But carry on is all we could do
12 months on after our biggest test
We are still standing and doing what
we do best
We have laughed
We have cried
And we have screamed out loud
But most of all we have felt so proud
We are proud of ourselves and our
colleagues too
It’s incredible what we have all
worked through
But when I reflect on it all there’s
nothing else I would be
Being a nurse means the absolute
world to me
Emily Smith
Communications Manager
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But most of all we
have felt so proud.
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WHITE LILAC
Safe in my sitting-room
My finger rests nervously on the remote
In case it all gets too much.
The scent from a sprig of lilac fills the room.
On a Covid ward
Men call across to each other almost cheerfully,
Their comradeship palpable.
“I nearly died three times – I thought I was going to
leave in a body bag.”
Mesmerised, I gaze at the screen
Not with pity, nor even fear
But with awe.
How did they get so brave?
The news item finishes.
Outside, the robins fly to their young in the ivy.
Like us, they live in danger.
I move the vase away a little.
The scent is just a bit too much.
Hilary Allison
Administrative Assistant
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2020
2020 what a year it’s been
Our family we have not seen
A day, a month even a year, it’s filled us all with so much fear!
I hear a voice down the phone, it seems to be a voice I’ve
known. They say that they’re missing me but in these walls is
where I’ll be.
2020 what a year it’s been!
Face is masks is all we’ve seen, sometimes it gets hard I
struggle to remember is it May? June or even December?
A calling voice guides me the way and helps me get through
the days. Although your eyes are all I see, I feel your kindness
towards me.
So my caring friend wearing the mask, please know I am
grateful when you’ve finished your task. I know 2020 has been
quite tough, but your hard work has been more than enough.
R Baker
Staff Nurse
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COVID-19 Day 62
Sixty two days since we were free, to come and go just as we all
pleased
The reason we are all in a lockdown state, this Covid-19 may spread
to our mates.
A nasty new bug from a Chinese province, a global pandemic came
without much notice,
The world it came to a very sudden stop, no longer on planes can
anyone hop.
Stay home, stay safe, is what we’ve been told, our social lives are all
put on hold
We long to have hugs with family and spend time with our friends.
We want to hold them all tight, but we can’t until this all ends.
So social media is all we have got, to keep in touch, it’s better than
not.
Every Thursday night we go out to clap, remember key workers and
our great NHS
Forty seven years I’m proud to be a Nurse, in all of that time its
never been worse
We have all pulled together through the good and the bad, some
days have made all feel very sad.
So keep safe at work, put on your PPE, it’s your only hope of staying
virus free.
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On bad days we have lost a colleague or two, from what seemed at
first like a dose of the flu
But this awful disease has claimed too many lives, brothers and
sisters, husbands and wives.
When will it end, will life ever be the same? we don’t have the
answers yet, oh what a shame
So for now we continue to fight in this war, against another virus
we have no vaccine for.
As more days go by we have time to reflect, what will we remember
or what have we missed?
Of times without loved ones we miss them so much, the shopping,
the freedom, or some jobs been lost.
The lessons we learnt about every day life, the things most
important to husbands and wives.
One things for sure when the virus has gone, these days we
remember like none gone before.
Those things we hold precious and just take for granted, our
freedom to go wherever we wanted,
We may have a long wait until we can fly, so just be content now to
go for a drive.
One day when it’s over and we have stories to tell, how we all helped
each other during this difficult spell
So just keep on going, keep positive, keep well, and all stick
together to do what you do well.​
Lorraine Priest
Infection Control Nurse
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Rallying our troops
We have been battling Covid for many months now
Some days we even wonder how
But we have got this far by being a team
We laugh, we cry and sometimes we scream
But we support each other, each and every day
Because after all - that’s the Black Country Way
We are feeling the pressure in this second wave
But we absolutely will not cave
Our patients deserve the very best care
And whatever they need – we will be there
If our ward needs you – please don’t say no
We need your help – more than you know
Our wards are secure, with lots of PPE
And if used correctly – you are safe as can be
If you are able to cover a shift please do
It’s your flexibility that will help us through.
Whether it’s Hallam, Bushey Fields or our other sites too?
When we need extra capacity – could it be you?
Communications Team
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Because after all,
that’s the Black
Country Way.
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Nursing in 2020
This is our time to show the world nurses worth,
The way we all work to help people on earth
It’s time to celebrate; nursing roles in their plenty,
But nursing has changed so much in 2020
A virus has come that changed all our lives,
It’s impacted the world since the time it arrived
It’s changed how we work and affected us all,
It has shown us no mercy from the old to the small
We’ve been stretched to our limits in a number of ways,
And 24 hours seems like weeks not a day
We have carried on working though the ways they have changed,
New roles, hours and settings, our lives rearranged
Core business remains, we never say never,
health care is now more important than ever
We rely on our colleagues, pull together at work,
Substantive, bank and agency none of us shirk
Student nurses have joined us in placements extended,
To add to a workforce that’s become much more blended
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The army of nurses that have returned into practice,
To fight there beside us, the virus that’s attacked us
Care and compassion remains always endemic,
As we all work together to get through this pandemic
We are not immune either at succumbing to sickness,
And plenty of colleagues have been affected by illness
Many nurses have passed from this terrible threat,
Rest in peace to you all, and we’ll never forget
We have cried for each other our families and friends,
That compassion and caring for us it won’t end
We are proud to be nurses and no one can doubt,
We’re supported each Thursday by a clap and a shout
It’s our time to prove that on us they depend,
Dedication and passion from their start till their end
We have shown what we’re made of, we are all built with stealth,
Working relentlessly to nurse the world back to health
The times they will change as the nation reshapes,
But the world will remember not all heroes wear capes
Maxine O’Brien
Matron
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The year not the vision.
They’re worried.
More than usual.
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Welcome to My World!
Pandemic. Coronavirus. Covid19. 2020.
The year not the vision.
They’re worried. More than usual.
Welcome to My World!
They might not get through it!
Welcome to My World!
There’s not enough Personal Protective Equipment.
Welcome to My World!
“There’s only enough for those who really need it,” they say.
Welcome to My World!
Might have to go to hospital!
Welcome to My World!
But there’s COVID there and other bugs!
Welcome to My World!
We might not get over it!
Welcome to My World!
We’re having weird dreams at night!
Welcome to My World!
This is, and has been for 25 years,
My life as a carer
of a severely disabled son!
Welcome to My World!
Teresa Culverwell
Carer
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From the Editor - Judy McDonald
2020 has been an incredible year and no one has been untouched
by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This collection of poems by the service users, carers and staff of
Black Country Healthcare captures a small window of people’s
experiences.
Being a nurse I am reminded of this quote by Florence
Nightingale: “I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words ;
they ought to be distilled into actions which bring results.”
I am proud that alongside all of my professional colleagues, our
service users, carers and members of the public - we have seen
peoples’ words and feelings transform into action to bring us
through the pandemic together.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this book and it has helped you to
reflect on your own experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
I’d like to thank all those who have contributed to the making of
the book and I would also like to dedicate it to all those who lost
their lives in services during the pandemic.
Judy
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Continue seeing our incredible staff showcase
their commitment and dedication to our service user
and the NHS by following our social media channels.
Who knows maybe even a poem or two will
pop up from time to time there too!
Give us a like Facebook by searching
‘Black Country Healthcare’
Find us on Instagram by searching
‘blackcountry_nhs’
Follow us on Twitter by searching
‘Black Country NHS’
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The delivery of first
vaccine gave us
optimism for the
future. It became our
symbol of hope.
Do you feel like you need help with your
mental health or are you in crisis?
A mental health crisis is when you feel your mental
health is at breaking point, and you need urgent help
and support.
However you experience a crisis, it’s always OK to
ask for help.
www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/
contact-us/help-crisis
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