Published on 25 March 2020
A surgeon at the William Harvey Hospital has penned a poem about coronavirus as part of a way to keep spirits up among frontline staff.
Jo Cooke, a consultant general and colorectal surgeon, composed her contribution for a team noticeboard about the virus.
As well as sharing important updates, and information on discounts and dedicated shopping hours for NHS staff, it also includes a poem section where staff unleash their creative sides.
She said: “We all really need to enhance team work and morale at the moment, and this is just one of the ways the surgical team are doing this.
“The poem section is something fun for us to think about during breaks and between our shifts and it’s proving really popular.
“Someone writes a poem and then tags a colleague, and we’re all seeing a totally different side to the people we work alongside.”
Jo’s poem won praise from fellow consultants, junior doctors and clinical managers, who suggested it should be shared more widely.
It reads:
Corona used to be a beer,
They garnished it with limes,
But now it's filled the world with fear,
These days are scary times.
Cease from travel, cease from flying,
Shops stripped bare by panic buying,
No shaking hands, no social hugs
They've even closed the clubs and pubs.
Keep your distance, stay away,
Now's not the time for simple play,
Stay indoors, self isolate,
More stringent measures, well they await.
But never fear, for we are here,
Your frontline team, a healthcare dream,
With PPE, gown, gloves, face shields,
Onwards we venture, to the battlefield.
Come on you virus, bring it on,
Do your worst, we'll take you on,
For we have spirit, compassion and love,
We shall destroy you and rise above.
Months, years from now, you'll be no more,
A mere memory of what passed through our shore,
Carry on we will, the human race,
Supporting each other, our saving grace.
