Five years ago we heard the call
The schools were shut down
And when I heard the news that day
I didn’t think to frown
Who knew we’d be locked in our homes
For weeks and months on end
All that I knew at that point was
I had free time to spend
A couple weeks to clean the schools
Became a cancelled year
But even as we came to June
Past summer we seemed clear
So much for that delusion though
So much for fifteen days
So much for going back to school
Instead we had malaise
The world was silent, sick, and still
The offices unkept
The schools were quiet without sounds
Though sanitized and swept
As virus did recede at last
On alternating days
The world was fixed a little bit
After the long delays
As Spring turned into Summertime
We waited for the word
To find out if we would be back
And some good news was heard
The schools returned to full-time class
“Just wear a simple mask
Don’t go to school if you’re sick
You’ll have an online task”
And though the mask constrained our life
We wore it for a while
Then Youngkin was elected and
The mask was out of style
Or so we thought it’d be, we hoped
But Board would choose to sue
And so the freedom from the mask
Remained as overdue
The courts eventually would rule
In favor of my mind
The details are not relevant
They’re boring you will find
Suffice to say that we were free
After that long long year
To live a life reflective of
A normal lack of fear
And so today remember loss
Of years of healthy life
Remember what we should have done
And don’t repeat the strife