Voice at the Window

’Voice at the Window’ is a collection of 100 daily gratitude poems written during lockdown by Elisabeth Pike. This poetry book was funded in just three days through a Kickstarter campaign.

Whilst struggling with winter blues, I decided to stop scrolling on social media and post one gratitude poem a day instead. I thought that even if no one read them it would do me good. I began writing on 26th February. It was initially a project for lent, with the intention of writing 40 poems, but by that time, the UK was in full lockdown and coronavirus was sweeping the globe. The response to the poems was really positive, and with encouragement from family and friends, I kept going until I reached 100. I think the poems really resonated with people as we were all going through this strange, empty, and anxious time, and we were going through it together, but sealed off in our own little boxes.

’Gratitude #57

I turn to see the bright field

at dusk,

in the inky blue of bedtime,

and then first thing

in the morning,

where it glows against the

warming sky like a beacon

or a flash of hope.

It is a new day.’

’Gratitude #59

Dear birds,

please be our healers,

our message bringers,

our sweet talkers.

Whether we be city dwellers

or country folk,

you birds are the only ones

who can visit us all.

Whether we have lost our best friend,

or are tethered to our home,

whether we are lonely or overcrowded,

may your gentle ’per-wit’,

your ’chee-chee’,

your slow ’coo-coo’

be a balm to our souls.

May we sleep like birds of the air

who know they have a nest.

May we wake in the morning

like sparrows who know

that they are cared for.

And wherever we are,

may we find an open window

and listen.’