06:42 – 07:28, wind NE 2 gusting 3, temp 8C (feels like 8)

A report on plans for coming out of lockdown is leaked to the BBC as Downing Street plays catch up over the membership and deliberations of SAGE.

    to the eastern peninsuLa
                  cross thE main sound
               along the gArdens
               a small monKey puzzle tree grows in a front garden
   a holly tree dome on a Stick
           pass through a Pulse of vehicles
    step into the green quIet
                   ivy truNks sawn at the tree’s base
            pass a quarry Dimmed with shrubs
         the two runners dIstance-pass
                two ducks Stand on the edge of the weir
move along above the burn’S flow
      a gatehouse roof tilEs missing
             a blackcap muMble-sings behind a wall
                along the Beat of the channel of sound
       the next train at pLatform two is for regent centre
           in the back-allEy plants grow in bins and buckets

04:19 – 05:04, wind NE 1 gusting 2, temp 7C (feels like 7)

An NHS doctor writes of government ‘lauding heroes’ whist watching them die without PPE.

                   around the soutH haven
                 a basement hum frOm a block of flats
                     light in the Windows of an early riser 
        over the dene the blackbirD sing
         amongst three blackbirds A wren trills
tilled rows lie still in the gatheRing dawn
              the crow’s call echoEs around the streets
                the exuberant blasT of a wren
                           song ecHoes along the terraces
    amongst the blackbirds a singlE song thrush sings
    the streetlight goes off as daY approaches

04:36 – 05:18, wind W 3 gusting 4, temp 7C (feels like 5)

There is scepticism about the government claim to have met its ‘100,000 tests a day by the end of April’ target.

                 to the wesT coast through a dawn chorus
 in civil twilight the streEts are empty
rolling waves of blackbird Song sweep by
      from far off the fainT shush of traffic
 a siren sings beneath an aIrcraft’s roar
              a scooter droNes by
           sparrows cheepinG and blackbird silhouettes’
   blue tit sings in the gaThering dawn
              through the tIght sounds of a narrow canyon
           walk into the teMpo of a chaffinch song
     pigeons call as sunrisE approaches
           four minutes to Sunup

06:20 – 07:01, wind W 2 gusting 3, temp 7C (feels like 5)

The virus reproduction rate (r) needs to be kept below one to halt the pandemic.

along the shore of south hAven
    a mistle thrush pale oN the grass
      over the fence neat Rows of potatoes
  step through the stream Of sounds
                 a verge oF sweet cicely bluebell and dead nettle
                       a bLackcap flies up into the sycamore
       trolls guard an allEyway gate
                    pigeonS display at the roadside
  rosebay willow herb growS under the eaves
              boutique cloThing home delivery available
     military general as rHinoceros
           a spaniel runs Amongst the cows
                   I straiN to hear the lark’s song
         the squeak-clang Of gates
         an alder grows feNced against the cows
           scattered feathErs mark a kill