Each week we will publish a short poem, written by some of our Manx Bards and other local poets.

These poems are short, fun little pieces, written to last around 20 seconds and can be recited during the time it takes to wash your hands.

This week’s poem is written by Annie Kissack, who was the fifth local poet to be made a Manx Bard.

Annie is a well-known writer, poet, composer, and speaker of Manx Gaelic, and is a teacher at the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh.

We will print one poem a week in the pages of Island Life. Why not try writing your own 20-second poem? Send your own poems to [email protected]

Soap and Water

(Can be sung to the tune of 'Clementine')

There’s a virus come to try us

looking for a place to land

and it isn’t really fussy if

that place is your own hand.

Though you cannot see it coming

it is lurking far and near;

but with lots of soap and water

you can make it disappear.

Do not dither, but get lathered

do the sloppy, soapy spread

up and down and do not dwindle

till you kill that virus dead!

Written by Annie Kissack, fifth Manx Bard