LOCKDOWN 2.022 - a post-pandemic anthology of international poetry

Covid ravaged our planet, but with a world cooperating (mostly), vaccines were found, and we survived; however, for the many who grieve lost loved ones, or still suffer the physical and mental after affects, normal life, whatever that may have been, will never return. Our original volume Poems from the Lockdown, published in April 2020, was a snapshot of the moment, immediate, visceral; this volume, Lockdown 2.022, seeks to reflect on the emerging world, where are we now?

It could be said, in terms of global psychology and consciousness, everything has changed, and yes, the Global Pandemic saw genuine kindness, a shared experience evident in humanity's best efforts to care for their fellow humans in face of a global threat, and yes, it brought out the best in us, uniting the world as one people, but also, as is evitable, it could be argued, the politics of power and greed, of prejudice and discrimination, of profiteering, raised their hydra heads. There will be public enquiries, the apportioning of responsibility (hopefully not blame), and accountability will be identified.

Lockdown 2.022
Featuring: Fran Abrams, Nikita Munshi Aggawal, Anne Marie Akin, Shantra Bullard, Don Carroll, TP Cooper, Gerald Dampier, Deborah Dodge, Dion Farquhar, AJ Fierney, R David Fletcher, Peter Henrich, Gloria Nixon-John, Kodhijah Ismail, James Patrick Lockett, Browning Mank, Trevor Maynard, Shalisa McAvoy, Paul Portugés, Michele Parker Randall, Danielle Selber, Joseph Sinclair, Brian Sluga, Hannah Walizer, Margaret Ann Waddicor, David Wren, Cigeng Zhang, and Lynne Zotalis: this anthology gives us 46 poems across many forms and styles, from many races, genders, and creeds.

Four poems were chosen for commendation, with one selected to receive an award of $250.
Award: buttercups and roses by AJ Fierney
Commended: Cameras Off, Mute Buttons on by Gerald Dampier
Sow the Ripples Will by Don Carroll
Gape by Michele Parker Randall

The World Health Organization has stated that over 15 million people died from Covid-19 between 2020 to 2022, with millions more continuing to live with ongoing health implications.

The whole world has changed dramatically, in terms of global psychology and consciousness.

The Global Pandemic saw genuine kindness, and the shared experience evident in humanity's best efforts to care for their fellow humans in face of a global threat, bring out the best in us, uniting the world as one people

Maybe it was inevitable this would subside ... arguably there has been a return to individualism, nationalism, maybe a reactionary rejection of humanity as a single, coherent, communal force for good

But there is still hope, experience matters, lessons were learnt, the pandemic forced us to see the future of our species as ONE entity on our ONE planet

Check out over two hundred and eighty poets published by Willowdown in our anthologies POEMS FROM THE LOCKDOWN, THE POETIC BOND (vols 1-10), HUMAN TO HUMAN, and NATURE 20/20

Willowdown Books actively supports all the people of the earth: we support gender equality, are against of all forms of racial discrimination, in favour of LBGTQ+ rights, support environmental causes, and believe in peace, and democracy. We believe in the freedom of the individual, the accountability of society, and the community of people of the Earth: One World, One People, in the words of Bob Marley, One Love.