Covid-19 - Power Of The Corona Virus Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

Power of the Corona Virus...

Many phenomena, many catastrophes,
many calamities, many disasters:
hailstorms, thunderstorms
sandstorms, typhoons, floods
tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes
in some place or the other
year after year.

Many wars: First world war,
Second world war, Gulf war, Syrian war;
soldiers, bombs, guns, war tanks, bombers;
every time, everywhere.
Men keep running to help others as soldiers,
people keep running
away to other countries as refugees;
everyone wants to survive
everyone wants to help others to survive.

Institutions: United Nations, NATO
trying to end wars, trying to upkeep peace
trying to stop terror.
World Health Organizations,
working to eradicate diseases,
by medicines, by vaccinations.
Hospitals, doctors, nurses, surgeries,
trying to give relief,
provide treatment, cure, save lives.

In the cities over-crowding, over-population,
yet many buildings, many apartments,
even skyscrapers, helping people
to get shelter, create their homes.
Finally comes a virus
no one can curb, no one can cure;
it brings the world to a standstill,
bewilders all, infects many,
causes deaths in thousands;
young or old it does not see,
it does not spare!

What is power of nations,
of organizations, of leaders
of arms and ammunition
in front of the Corona virus?
Man thirsts to live
virus thirsts for deaths;
virus has no eyes to see
who, where, when,
it catches anyone, anywhere,
even kings and Presidents;
it selects to infect, it compels to die,
it keeps infecting...
everyday, every hour,
no one can combat it.

Man helpless, masters helpless,
doctors helpless, nations helpless
prophecy helpless.
Child asks - why no school?
Virus replies - "holidays,
stop studying, stop breathing,
be a good child",
child cries, mothers terrified
world cries...even life cries
as it sees how callous the virus can be.

Virus says - it is on duty
doctors say - I save lives
virus says - I waive life;
man afraid, runs in and stays indoors,
quarantines himself;
virus finds others, catches them tightly;
those he clasps he suffocates them
and sends them to sleep, never to wake up.

People in panic, sorrow forgotten
others run to save themselves;
they hide, virus still finds them
they grapple till they abandon breath;
eternity calls them, virus feels victorious
walks away, pitilessly.

Man blames virus, who will ever blame
the mighty power called extinction,
which chooses to isolate those
who have to go from those
who have to live and stay back?
O' the power of the virus
keeps escalating, keeps engulfing
the whole world like a wildfire.

It has forced a lockdown
in every town and city;
O' it has locked down shutters, shops;
it has locked down friendships;
no booze to get over it;
no relief, no peace
no sleep, only fear.

Many deaths, many tears,
If I will go, will you remember me?
If I go, I will remember you, I promise!
Virus says: no memories,
I am the power, no condolences,
I have forced a lockdown on you
and on your life.

O' corona, I ask myself
when will I lock you down and free myself
from the mighty power you hold and propel;
Can't you stop killing us?
Can't you stop dispersing?
Can't you help us live our time on this earth
which is so valuable.

O' Corona, extinguish your power and
help us to go on, help us to live in this world
which is so full of wonder and love;
we will never be able to track back our steps
if you take us far away from this planet
so full of vibrancy of life;
so corona, spare us to live,
spare us to love.