I was ambling down the street today when a man came up to me and said,
‘Looking good, lovely lassie, but what’s that upon your head?’
I reached up then, to touch said head and felt around a while,
The man stood waiting next to me with a chuckle and a smile.
I saw my reflection in a shop window and sure, my head was fine,
And I watched this gent watching me, his smile as big as mine.
‘April Fool’ he yelled out then, ‘fooled ya, didn’t I hen?’
‘It’s June now,’ I stammer back, ‘you’ll have to try again.’
‘You smiled,’ he replied, ‘didn’t you now? That’s all I care about.’
That’s right I thought, I had been so sad, till I heard him come and shout.
His job he said, his only job, was to spread much needed cheer,
And he roamed the streets, up and down, to frighten away all fear.
I’d been ambling down the street today with terror in my heart,
My face was masked, my heart was clenched, and folk 2 meters apart.
There were words in my head, new words now, not my usual chatter,
Unprecedented! New Normal! That’s all that seemed to matter.
Thinking of the next virus wave, I was indeed a picture of doom,
Till he saw me thus, made me smile, and chased away my gloom.
Now, thanks to him, my step is light, and I wear this silly grin,
There’s humming in my head and strumming in my heart, and a sense of joy within.
I walk tall now, and move around, looking strangers in the eye,
And I share with them my magic smile, masked smiles as wide as I.
I wish I knew, who he was, that man I met today?
I can’t hug him now, or shake his hand, but I bless him all the way.