My Outlet In Times Of Trouble Poem by Mark Heathcote

Nature's my outlet in times of trouble
when I want to get away from the news,
that COVID-19 self-isolation bubble,
rivers and long canal walk lift my blues.
They're an artery to a heartland,
only a soul's inner peace can understand.

It's my outlet when I see gowns-of-white
gloved-and-masked - taking on-the-task
of saving lives, walking avenues of lime-
trees in a mindful and elegiac-
stride, writing some blank verse, from time to time,
as I ponder how nature is sublime.

It's surreal all the changes we've had,
all that's now forbidden, we took-for-granted
but truly in-other-ways, I'm just-glad
holding one dear hand in mine supplanted
knowing-really nothing is-decided
however, the future gets lopsided.

It's in our grasp to hold this stinging-nettle
dull its sting by admiring everything,
it's in our courage, our hearts-metal
to fight fatigue tooth and nail with every limb,
recalling all that's perished before us
once more rises in spring beauteous.