Covid 19 has struck. The world is shut down. It is hard for many people. Andrea and I are lucky enough to be in a financially stable position, and with all this time on our hands we can collaborate on musical projects. As theaters and restaurants close, as people are becoming more and more frustrated with the necessary steps being taken to halt the virus, there is one sector at least that is breathing a hefty sigh of relief: the animals.

TWO of the LOCKDOWN POEMS by Andrea Mellis (...my wife and inspiration) #2. SONG OF THE BUGS We like this. We like to potter along We green, gold, spotted, shiny, Carapaced, wingèd, fuzzy, sleek, In our hundreds In our thousands All unseen or just barely visible Beetles, ants, the occasional Lazy bee. And you don't step on us, Because you're not THERE! Ha ha. #4. SARABANDE OF THE DEER Ah, how delicious, ah, how tender, And one eats truly with the eyes; Red, white and pink and yellow, All folded up with green; Thus, stately, slowly, unafraid we wander Nibbling daintily, from grave to grave. Roses and hyacinths and lilies, Nudging aside the dead and waxy candles, Cold crispy leaves of asters, Interspersed with snacks on bitter marigolds. Every now and then some tasty evergreen and Pity there is such a lot of stringy ribbon. How many of our children, How many final resting places Have you, you humans desecrated, Hunting, as you call it while of course we call it Murder, we call it slaughter. Buried under daisies and forget-me-nots. Row after row of plates of dainty morsels All nicely hedged with marble, granite. When you venture forth at last to visit (If you're still alive to do so) You will find the stalks and shredded ribbons, We will be replete and gone.

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     They are taking over. There are videos online of goats invading village streets, of monkeys running amok in formerly crowded markets and public places. There are deer calmly feasting on the flowers in a cemetery, and in our own town we witnessed a trio of ducks who left the palace pond to take up residence in the garden out front. They even strolled up and down the main shopping street, undeterred by the few shoppers who looked on with amusement and made way for them.

     We take regular walks too, in our neighbourhood since travel further afield is not advised, and one day, observing some pretty bugs on the path, Andrea had an idea: do you suppose the animals are relieved that we are no longer about, creating our noise and pollution and driving them away? She set about to describe how the bugs might be happy that we no longer step on them because we are absent (see the box at right). She imagined those ducks being glad to be away from the cold murky water of the pond and away from handfuls of stale bread tossed by tourists ("eat it yourselves" they say in song #1). Arrogant goats mock us as we cower at home in fear, and deer gracefully munch on our graveyard flowers. They have little sympathy. And the monkeys are just monkeys, chattering, scolding and fighting over popcorn left behind by absent humans.