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The Last Hug For A While
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By: Lisa Fingleton
Publisher: The Barna Way
Published: December 2021
Pages: 56
Categories: Art, Humanities, Non-Fiction
Language: English
Available as: Paperback
On sale at:
ISBN-13: 9781999317515

This book just poured out of me, initially as a way of coping with the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic. It seems so long ago now that we were hearing about this mysterious virus in China and seeing the horrendous images of mass graves around the world. My parents came to stay for the weekend in Kerry just on the cusp of what we now describe as the first lockdown. While it was lovely as always to have them staying with us, there was a tangible anxiety in the air. As dad was leaving the house he turned to give me a hug and said “This could be the last hug for a while”. I managed to wave them goodbye before bursting into tears. I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing them again. I just had to write, to cope with the sadness and feeling of being overwhelmed. As I wrote the words “This could be the last hug for a while, the last time I see your rogueish smile”, I started humming an air and a song was born. A friend and activist also died around the same time and for her I added the lines “Be brave, be strong. Give voice to those who are wronged and shine a light so others find their way”. I felt the need to reach out to friends and family around the world who were confined to bubbles, appartments and houses. “Cocooning is for butterflies. For humans it is hell”. My partner Rena and I made an impromptu recording of the song to share with them. You can watch it HERE While there are a few poems about the pandemic itself and nostalgia for the world that was BC (Before Covid) most of them reflect broader concerns about climate change and the erosion of democratic process and human rights. Indeed The Last Hug for A While could have been written for our sisters and brothers in Ukraine. There’s even a poem that is called “I sent some light to Putin” that came to me long before the invasion of Ukraine. Ultimately the book is a call to action and an invitation to love especially at this time when love and light are needed.

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