avatarDenise Larkin, BA (Hons)

Summary

The poem "Bleak Times" reflects on the emotional toll and uncertainty of life during a period of hardship, while also expressing hope for a brighter future.

Abstract

"Bleak Times" is a poignant poem by Denise Larkin that captures the essence of living through challenging times, marked by a sense of bleakness and isolation. It acknowledges the limitations imposed by an unseen threat, presumably a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced people to maintain physical distance and altered daily life. The poem conveys a longing for human connection and the simple pleasures of the past, while also grappling with the fear and frustration of an uncertain future. Despite the pervasive sense of despair, there is an underlying current of hope that these difficult experiences will lead to meaningful change and a return to joy and togetherness. The poem ends on a note of gratitude for survival and the resilience of the human spirit.

Opinions

  • The author feels that the current situation has cast a shadow over daily life, making the future seem daunting.
  • There is a sense of loss for the ability to engage in physical expressions of affection and community.
  • The poem suggests that the ongoing struggle lacks a clear end, contributing to a feeling of helplessness.
  • The speaker yearns for

Bleak Times

A poem about the bleakness of our lives

Photo by Oliver Roos on Unsplash

The days are bleak The nights are black Nothing seems bright As the future is a fright.

We can go out We can see family We can go for walks We can sit outside But We must not touch We must not hug For there’s a bug Lurking In the shadows A bleakness We cannot apprehend Or perceive Or pretend It has an end.

You may ask When will life be simple? When will our days be safe? There is no answer There is no explanation For no one knows When our days Of strife Will surely come to An abrupt end.

So, we must pray That these Bleak times Will bring a change Ending our days Of frustration And isolation Into a wonderous Burning light To halt our blight.

The future is coming For one day A reunion A celebration A mourning For what We have lost To be never forgotten Will turn our days Into a happy haze.

Then we can Lookup into the sky And thank the universe For our livelihood Our life Our family Who lived through it To the bitter end.

©️ Denise Larkin 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Want to become a writer for Medium become a member and earn from your writing. Join here:

Poetry
Poem
Lifestyle
Family
Coronavirus
Recommended from ReadMedium
avatarDr. Fatima Imam
Interpretation

Is it possible to translate a dream

2 min read
avatarJay — the Unflushable Floater — Squires
My Apologies to a Great Poet

… and the story — much of which may be factual — that prefigured the genesis of my own poem

5 min read
avatarBebe Nicholson
The Day My Mother Didn’t Recognize Me

We are not defined by any one moment in life. We are the sum total of everything.

5 min read
avatarSuzanne V. Tanner
Nanny June’s Addictive Bacon Potato Salad

If meat isn’t your thing, skip the pork and add some crushed smoked almonds.

5 min read
avatarAlan Schilling
Reborn Again

A Poem

2 min read
avatarUlf Wolf
My Father was Too Self-Absorbed

And this finally caught up with him

5 min read