Days are passing by, in a state of ‘Locked Down'
Imposed by the unseen authority
Of COVID-19.
That's a great opportunity for me
To unlock myself
And look deep within, and also outside.
Got used to the domestic routine,
Of doing the same things day in and day out,
But yet, those are the things that I love to do.
Now I spend my time by listening to songs,
Reading and writing poetry,
Praying in earnest, in my own language,
At specified times.
It is now almost a set pattern,
That's a set daily ritual for me.
For me now, the ‘outside world' means
The stretch of the sky that I can see
Lying on my bed, through the window,
And the green treetops that greet me
When I sometimes stand in the balcony,
Almost as a drill, an old habit.
I love to inhale the morning fresh air
That is oxygenated by the trees nearby.
But standing there, like before,
Sadly, I see no more
The flights of planes coming in and going out,
Flying past my home, on the approach of a runway.
Sadly, they have been grounded,
Like birds brought down by a tempest,
With broken wings,
Many faces peep in my mind when I stand in prayers.
Some were long gone, some in the recent past.
A few of them were victims of Corona.
I can read their lips, they chant
‘Prayers, prayers, prayers'!
My tongue responds readily and prays for them.
The birds that laid eggs on a balcony flower tub,
Hatched for days together with utmost attention
And when the shells broke,
They fed the nestlings a few times a day.
What a pleasure it was to see them!
Now they are all gone, perhaps to their new nests.
The Order of Lock Down has locked us down,
Yet, remaining indoors too,
Some has to change their addresses
From temporary to a permanent Locked Down state.
They move alone in coffins, with unfamiliar faces,
While their families mourn, remaining ‘Locked Down'!
Dhaka
14 May 2020
Beautifully penned sir. Explicit portrayal of how to keep oneself sound and healthy. Sir you reminded me to write my poetry on this topic but I'm not getting good words, so I have held it. The lonely streets The chirpy birds And my presence That fill the space. Golden is this hour Blooming what's under Hidden for year Forgetting to rise ever. Well expressed sir
Thank you, Vasha M, for visiting my page and leaving a kind comment on this poem. Your verses are good. Please add another four lines and 'unlock' the held up verses.
The good and bad of lockdown state. It gives an opportunity to see the world in a different way, away from hustle of busy life. You can watch nature and enjoy its many forms. You can see coffins being taken to graveyards. This is the sad part. The last stanza is beautiful. Those who escape death are lucky. Enjoy the poem.
@Anil Kumar Panda, Thanks for visiting my page and sharing your thoughts on my poem. Much inspired by your appreciation, and the thoughtful comment.
'During the lock down we are getting more time to think and ink' - yes, and also to peek at othes' works. That is why you can find me visiting you more often than earlier. Thanks for the comment, @Akhtar Jawad.
A moving write about the life in covid-19 lock down.The lock down has given us also an opportunity to see life differently.The last stanza is very meaningful and heart touching. Some has to change their addresses From temporary to a permanent Locked Down state. They move alone in coffins, with unfamiliar faces, While their families mourn, remaining ‘Locked Down'!
Thanks for quoting from my poem, that's a great inspiration! 'The lock down has given us also an opportunity to see life differently' - yes, indeed! It will leave a permanent stamp in the history of mankind, I guess. Much inspired by your comment, @Bharati Nayak.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
It's obvious that you have the strength of mind, the exploring kind of spirit, the depth of heart that make you the kind of person who is never " locked down" in spirit or mind or heart! When you get a whiff of boredom. you look ourside your window or into your bookcase. We [you] should post your poem all over the internet to show people there is a lot of life in lock-down! ! 10+++++++++
My God! I am so overwhelmed, am I supposed to get so much praise for my humble poem? Thanks a lot, dear Susan Williams, I am highly inspired by your generous praise of the poem and the highest rating accorded to it. My very best wishes to you! By the way, I have translated your haiku 'One By One' in my mother language Bangla and posted it on poemHunter. I have also left two comments on the poem.