Never A Statistic

In loving memory of Stuart Beattie Cullen, my brotherin-law husband to Wendy, father to Jamie and Iain 22.11.53 - 17.1.2021

no more winters

no more summers

no trumpet fanfare

nor mourning drummers

.

stand pay attention

to each nation's numbers

those who have succumbed

those who are encumbered

.

another notch on a bully belt

nicked by a fat covid snatcher

.

we are rocked

though we don't roll

we are empty of heart and soul

we are numbed by the speed

by sheer greed of a callous taker

a shaker of spirits

.

whose parched thirst is unslaked

whose belly remains unfilled

who cares not of lives taken

nor of tears in sadness spilled

.

our loved one is yesterday

where memories live

grief is for today

grief is lost tomorrows

.

while pain

a price paid for loving

leaves a deluge of rain

.

splattered drop sorrows

on stain red cheeks

from hollow eyes

Reviews

[h d e rushin]

since there is no logical parallel to what the world is experiencing, we have to turn to the poets to try and make sense of this. All of this. God commands this shelter from pain perhaps; this metaphoric proposition that not only occupies our grief but rolls back the stone of uncertainty if the angels are too busy.....dana

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dana for sharing your thoughts. A welcome visit from you. All the best.

Chris

[NormaZ]

Wow, Chris, so sorrowful, and yet the line “we are rocked though we don’t roll” brings in a little spot of resilience. I’m sorry to hear about your brother-in-law.

[Diamond]

This poem is "moving". Loss is real - Pain is real. What one does about it is up to oneself.

"we are numbed by the speed
by sheer greed of a callous taker"

This lines speaks loads and volumes.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Diamond. Written when my brother in law died in hospital from covid. Known him since I was 18. Terrible loss for my sister, my nephews and the whole family. Taken too soon, but we are united in the grief that millions of others have suffered world wide.

[Diamond]

I understand. Staying "united" is key to all healing and strength. Much Love, light and healing your way.

[SleeplessVolcano]

What a journey this poem took me on. It nearly had a rap song vibe, like an artist making a commentary on the drama with statistics / death / Covid. I like the anthem-like title, which shows empathy with those we lost due to Covid, but for us, who are still alive, we don't have to succumb (emotionally) to the fear that statistics cause. We are more than a number. We don't have to submit to the stereotypical power of what a number seems to suggest.....powerful writing!

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks for your visit and your thoughts. Always good to hear.

Chris

[Helen]

This is heartfelt and heartachingly beautiful. Such perfectly penned lines that will sound familiar to anyone who is grieving... "grief is lost tomorrow's"

I was drawn to the title due to my job as an analyst.

I'm not a statistician .. my mind works better with patterns and words than it does with numbers. Since March I've been working on the Covid response for a local authority in an area with high cases. Never a statistic though, never just a number .. not a day goes by when my team don't mention the personal cost .. brought home now and then by tragic pictures of frontline colleagues who have died. Never a statistic, always a loved one.

Thank you for sharing and writing such engaging and important poetry Christine .

[Chris Shaw]

I am really touched by this lovely review Helen. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Just Kim]

Such a deep write, so much emotion, nicely expressed

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Kim. Your visit and thoughts appreciated. All good wishes.

Chris

[Lorry]

Sorry for you and yours loss Chris,
We go through life as marks on a start sheet, an employee, NI number, a tick in a Y/N box and oh so many more too dreary to contemplate, but we are all a thousand things and more to so many we have know...brother in law, partner, parent, child, friend, colleague, assistant, teacher and so much more, yet even in death they still try to wrap us in their red tape and beaurock... Byoorok.... Bloody numbers!
Time of death, date of birth and death separated only by a - on a headstone, that would take a library of books to even scratch the surface of who that person is to even one of those they knew.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lorry. Each day we get the drum roll of the numbers of people who have died the day before from covid. The numbers are shocking and we need to remind ourselves that each one of those lost lives was far greater than a small statistic. The loss of my sister's husband this week, just emphasised those feelings. As I wrote this I was able to remember all he meant to my sister and our family. She had been with him since she was 17, and I knew him as far back as me at 19 years old. There are so many, many lovely memories. This is the second attempt at responding to you. This site is a nightmare at the moment.

Chris

[Lorry]

Every one a story to so many can never be just a start. Uk will become 5th country to pass hundred thousand deaths in next day or so and only way I can comprehend that is to think of where I used to live,. Not the town, but the entire region is around 90,000 people, so it's like picturing everyone I used to see wherever I went in day to day life and picturing it now empty... Or three of where I live now (again, region not town) disappearing. Now that is a scary thought.
Ad all the people who mourn someone and your mind will melt at the thought.
Remember govt saying it could be as high as 20,000 deaths and trump saying no way it would be 100 to 200,000....bet they wish they had shut up now.

[barleygirl]

This is the most raucous powerful poem I've ever seen you write! Wow! I can feel you kinda raging out, in your subdued & slightly understated way. You show your family's private anguish alongside the bigger picture of pandemic slaughter & this amplifies your whole message to a deafening roar. I'm so sorry this damn thing has hit so close to home for all of you (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Beccy]

First, my heartfelt condolences Chris for the loss of your brother-in-law; such a sad thing and something that so many families are enduring at this time.

It is no real consolation, but there will be summers to come; but it is going to be one hell of a fight before this monster is finally slain. As for the deniers, (and I personally know more than one such idiot,) they are so very wrong both scientifically and morally.

Beccy.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your condolences and your visit Beccy. You know it is the deniers who concern me most. What planet are they living on?

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

Yes dear Chris. The coronavirus took from us so much. I lost my father 29 January 2020 to her. My daughter, the nurse. Had the virus twice. I wish for normal days. Poor grandchildren are locked in the house. In the Spring, Summer and Fall. We could escape to the many lakes and forest near. Winter make the days slower and harder. I hope you are doing well and stay safe my dear friend.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Staying safe Coyote. Two grandchildren live with us, so we have company. Conversation is important. The days are cold, so we are looking forward to spring when we can spend more time outside. So sorry about you Dad and your daughter has had a bad time too. I expect your grandchildren miss the outside freedom. Take care and keep safe.
Let's hope the vaccine roll out will bring some normality back in the near future.

Chris.

[Coyote Poetry]

I hope so dear Chris. The grandchildren and I. We have great plans for some fieldtrips. Have some fun and stay safe.