The pandemic started,
brought with it a sense of insecurity
confused it just glared,
at everyone's immaturity
how could one judge
its way of mortality
too soon too fast
here now and gone then
corona was thy name,
COVID 19 they christened!
how could we know
its way of spread
too early too vast
from one to many
here this moment
moved to another zone, another second!
from the bat to the lab
all the theories flew!
with the upsurge so high,
what did we learn
what did we buy?
of lessons of handwashing
and with sessions of social distancing
didn't we all not just recover our senses
of breath, of open airs,
of outdoor scares and indoor chores
didn't we all observe and experience
so much more about human nature?
such fragile souls, much fragile egos
shattered houses, battered spouses
broken homes, bruised relationships
where one wanted care and comfort
others just gave criticism and condemnation
where one needed approval and acceptance
others just gave refusal and resent!
derogatory and stigma became the norm
when they just seeked some hugs, cozy and warm
when they didn't want to get tagged just as a survivor
but wanted to play the role of a brave warrior
all they could do was pinpoint
the idiosyncrasies, the individuality
which had the larger picture in mind
not just the concern of the daily grind!
the "lockdown's got talent" became another game
to show off to the world
of the cooking skills, of the hobbies
you never had time for,
as the money minded us,
just ran the rut!
Instagram and facebook,
Tiktok and YouTube,
all flooded with pictures, videos and emotions
either saree challenges, new recipes,
new artworks and dance moves!
Instagram and facebook,
Tiktok and YouTube,
all flooded with pictures, videos and emotions
either saree challenges, new recipes,
new artworks and dance moves!
but who really cares?
weren't we supposed to cook, clean
keep it all together
even in the dirty routine?
and even if we did,
why are we running the rat race
in the period of lockdowns and quarantines!?
what do we want to prove and to whom
what you shall do after this ends,
and what you did before,
if it isn't starkly different
if it isn't starkly different
from the good that became the best
and the bad that didn't become the worst
in the long run, will it really matter!?
if this was to keep the world together,
let's keep it sane to bare this cold weather
to hold it close, and say no! we shall win!
then we have already won it!!
if this was to keep the world together,
let's keep it sane to bare this cold weather
to hold it close, and say no! we shall win!
then we have already won it!!
the healthcare workers and police hustled,
but still the crowd bustled,
with essential services on point
still long ques, supermarkets lined!
milk and grocery took the chime
almost unacknowledged in the daily grime
instead of the batman and spiderman suits
superheroes now wore PPE's
keeping their white coats at bay
they still saved lives,
they were not caked faces, no longer the role models,
providing entertainment on the television
nor were they saving the world as promised in their movies!
the world clapped, danced to celebrate these frontline warriors,
but alas! some didn't even let them have a coffin, a grave!!
their service to humanity was par excellence,
but what they got in return was no more than resentful!
didn't they deserve dignity in death
if not just violence at workplace?
how much do they suffer in silence
to make your life one that of minus the sirens!?
"foreign return" was no more a fab statement
getting them back became mandatory
corona or no corona,
the nation thats named "Bharat"
accepted them all with welcoming arms!
after several rescue missions for brave warriors
they brought back daughters and sons who had migrated from their own motherland,
or were travelling around the world,
without questioning their loyalty
of those who had left forever and
without a doubt for everyone who had put
their hard earned money to trot the globe
when we didn't think past these barriers
some made it about religion
the nasty game of politics they say!
divide and rule they shriek!
the migrants were no better
providing cheap labour to earn their bread and butter
got treated step motherly even this time,
when there was vande bharat mission to rescue the elite
we ran shramik express to move them home
shramik they were in true sense
they toiled for their paapi pet!
and toiled to get back to their own homes too
on days got sprayed with hypochlorite solution
as if the virus reeked from their bodies!
other days walked, cycled,
or hid into trucks in multiples to reach a place called home.
"marna hai toh ghar pe marenge" they said
such was their tragedy,
that they feared not death
but they feared not seeing their loved ones,
one last time, if alas! the chinese virus struck them!!
being 'atmanirbhar' was their style always
the "global become local" was their tagline!
"foreign return" was no more a fab statement
getting them back became mandatory
corona or no corona,
the nation thats named "Bharat"
accepted them all with welcoming arms!
after several rescue missions for brave warriors
they brought back daughters and sons who had migrated from their own motherland,
or were travelling around the world,
without questioning their loyalty
of those who had left forever and
without a doubt for everyone who had put
their hard earned money to trot the globe
when we didn't think past these barriers
some made it about religion
the nasty game of politics they say!
divide and rule they shriek!
the migrants were no better
providing cheap labour to earn their bread and butter
got treated step motherly even this time,
when there was vande bharat mission to rescue the elite
we ran shramik express to move them home
shramik they were in true sense
they toiled for their paapi pet!
and toiled to get back to their own homes too
on days got sprayed with hypochlorite solution
as if the virus reeked from their bodies!
other days walked, cycled,
or hid into trucks in multiples to reach a place called home.
"marna hai toh ghar pe marenge" they said
such was their tragedy,
that they feared not death
but they feared not seeing their loved ones,
one last time, if alas! the chinese virus struck them!!
being 'atmanirbhar' was their style always
the "global become local" was their tagline!
anyways this shall pass too
thought the survivor and the warrior
with no time to spare
not a tear to shed!
'cuz to make the world a better place
they ought to be stronger, together
they ought to teach mankind
that there ain't no religion higher than humanity
no place as sacred as fresh morning air,
no better heart and soul than that of a lover,
no greater prayer than that of the caress of a mother!
no stronger arms than that of the father who slogged all life,
no rock solid support of the friends that always belonged and cared!
so let us belong to this earth,
as if it were family
as if the survival of every being mattered
human or animal, big or small,
however the religion, the caste, the race,
the colour, the beauty, the grace!
let us take care of nature and its fury
as if it were here to stay
they say there is silence before the storm
lets say this is the chaos before the peace!
lets unsettle a little bit
with the masks and quarantine
to ease into a better tomorrow
of cures and vaccines
to erase the dark era of this pandemic
into a future full of hope
and a life not so tragic
