Zoe Cannell is the current Manx Bard, and the sixth local poet to hold the title.

Each month she shares a poem with us and tells us a little of what inspired her to write it.

Each Thursday evening at 8pm, I have been going outside to acknowledge the efforts of the Isle of Man Health and Social Care Service, the carers and other key-workers during this Covid-19 pandemic.

I am especially appreciative of those who have been looking after my mother in Salisbury Street nursing home, my doctor’s surgery, in Finch Hill, Douglas, and all the excellent service in the shops which are close to my home and office in Douglas.

It has been wonderful to meet and get to know my immediate neighbours and I am thankful to everyone in the Ballabrooie district for their recent generosity and support. This month’s poem is a tribute to the helpfulness of many members of our island community, and a hearty ’cheers’ to the new friendships formed.

It is not for those who wish to splash their ’good deeds’ all over social media, but about the people who are quietly going about assisting others in a variety of ways, without necessarily expecting any thanks or feedback.

I have done a lot of additional poetry writing during the time of coronavirus and have been trying, in some small part, to document all the new ways of how we are going about our daily business.

It is an interesting time for budding writers and artists - to creatively express these strange times we are living through.

However, I’m missing being able to fully serve our Manx community by going into it reading poetry aloud and, thus, meeting people.

Until March, this was a huge and enjoyable part of my role as Manx Bard, and I hope that it will not be too long before I can return to it.

Neighbourhood Niceties

She’d studied music at college; gained good qualification

To head back to her hometown for a teaching vocation

In singing, where she was building a good reputation.

Since the lockdown, she’d been working with students online.

Sometimes the Wi-Fi would wobble, but they’d mostly align.

Did it all - Bizet, Beatles, Rodgers and Hammerstein…

But the next-door chap wailed like an old alley cat.

Through the walls drifted crooning; his favourite – ‘Take That’.

Though he was powerful and passionate, he always seemed flat!

Renditions of ‘Rule The World’ frankly failed to inspire

And his ‘Babe’ would never earn him a place in a choir.

Out-of-tune ‘Back For Good’ didn’t Relight her Fire…

In their apartment block, the two adjoined on the first floor.

Recognising his name from mail dropped through the door,

Thought she’d send him a message to find out some more.

When he replied, they engaged back-and-forth in fun chat,

She hinted, ‘Oft hear your tunes when I’m home in my flat

And I’ll give you Skype lessons.’ (A true diplomat!)

Well, he embraced it! Male Madonna, got into the groove!

From her laptop, she told him how diaphragms move.

Her expert guidance paid off; he began to improve.

This pairing warmly endured; tuition all offered free.

Off-key Gary Barlow replaced with… young Pavarotti!

‘I’d like to repay all the kindness that you have shown me.’

‘As you are an Italian, well, your language amazes,

So perhaps, in return, I can learn basic phrases.’

Quick grasp of his lingo, and he was singing… her praises!

Lockdown friendship, it blossomed; neighbours both became skilled

Plans for next year? Perhaps great ambitions fulfilled,

By entering a Duet - in Italian - in a class at The Guild!

by Zoe Cannell

www.themanxbard.org