Once upon a time a Virus With A Crown On Its Head swept across the land. An invisible reign. A new government. “Go into your homes,” said the Virus, “or I will eat your lungs for my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The city that never sleeps shall fall into a profound slumber, your gold shall turn to dust, and your face shall be pressed against the windowpane.”

“And the elders, for fear of death, shall not embrace the young.”

Sabrina Orah Mark

Is that not the best description yet of this virus? My listless hours clicking through the Twittersphere were rewarded with that gem. You can find the full article here. 

The lockdown has the feel of a fairy tale doesn’t it? Spookily quiet streets, fear of the unknown, eerie masks, aversion of others.

From my student days I recall the sociological purpose of fairy tales was to reinforce gender roles and political powers. Traditional folk lore endings were not necessarily moral, nor were they necessarily happy. Sometimes a story was just a story. Aesop’s fables on the other hand, always had a moral attached.

I will leave further research up to your discretion. If a fairy tale is an apt metaphor for the Covid-19 virus, we are no where near the ending, happy or otherwise. The moral may be as simple as ‘keep your hands clean and away from your face’.  

For some of us, underneath the angst and stress, I suspect there is secret enjoyment of the lockdown. The lack of traffic, sirens, and schedules — mixing the perfect martini. At any old hour.

Stay safe everyone.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog.  Your comments, questions, ideas and shares are always welcome; Facebook, Twitter, or the contact button.  

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger.  I keep it short and to the point.  Topics are as wide ranging as a straight but not narrow path.