COVID-19: ISOLATED BUT POETIC

TEN POEMS

1

sudden downpour--
worrying about the virus
in sleep


2

in the air
I expected romance--
corona:
avoid her kiss
and breathing too


3

The deity may hear
or not hear the loud praise
and silent sighs
the temple dust is not free
from virus in the air

devotees carry
without God's wish suffer
sins not committed:
quarantined in hospital
alone for fourteen days


4

a hammer pounding
my still body in dark tube:
MRI


5

with spring comes
burial of romance:
COVID-19


6

on the bed
physical distance--
end of sex


7

stone deities
deliberate Corona--
isolation


8

The sun and cool breeze
betray no virus:

the house arrest sickens
the fear kills the spring

this Naw Ruz alters
the meaning of life

buried in years that gibe
political follies

fanatic ambitions
and culture of suicide

they call evolution
progress, peace, unity

ruining harmony
in nature's home fuel

no re-creation
but perpetual death


9

confused longing
longer day in lockdown
weird restlessness


10

punitive
corona virus--
lepreuse
some say it's invasion
the barbarian without

quarantined
i clear my throat
behind the face mask
breathe in unknown viruses
suffer new repressions

now lockdown
cut off life:
castration
Hugo said monasticism
resisting death


--R.K.SINGH