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COVID-19

Pandemic Echoes

An invisible enemy has changed our lives. Lives lost, all too soon. Soon slinks fear, that we contain in isolation. Isolation bringing bitter loneliness; thoughts echoing. Echoing around the world, clouds of chaos and uncertainty. Uncertainty in each other, infected with suspicion. Suspicion of one another, seems like our jobs. Jobs vanishing, economy at a standstill.   Still, hope is in our nature. Nature is renewing, the world is clean and quiet. Quiet acts of kindness, binding us together. Together we lead, enlightened by our journey.

Out of the Pandemic, poetry in seasons by Paridhi, 13 | Part I: Winter 2020

Author’s Statement I started writing this piece as an optional assignment in my seventh grade English class. It was an end of the year assignment. In this piece, I have tried to describe some vivid memories and experiences over the one and a half years during which the COVID-19 virus has put a break on my life. The pandemic has been a turning point in my life. I still have many more experiences to gain in life but I doubt I will ever be able to forget this. A Note from the Editor These poems were submitted to Stone Soup blog as a 40 page collection. I have decided to publish them in weekly installments, breaking them up by the seasons Paridhi established. The artwork I have chosen to accompany each installment was not selected by the author and was originally published in Stone Soup.  Part I Winter 2020 A Glimpse of Winter (Nikon COOLPIX L830)By Hannah Parker, 13 (South Burlington, VT), published in Stone Soup December 2019 50th Annual Day My school,  JNS,  Its 50th year of existence.  It’s a grand ceremony.  Trained in Bharatanatyam  For the past 4 years,  Earned me  A place in prestigious prayer dance.  I am very excited,  Excited but nervous.  The aura of the heavy costume,  The makeup, the traditional jewelry,  It makes me weak in my knees.  Could see the pride in my mother’s eyes  Missing my father though  Who is slogging in the US  At his new job.  It All Started Corona Virus!  Oh God! What is this?  It seems to be the talk of the town!  China comes out as the culprit  Blamed by one and all.  Disease, Death, Doom,  Italy echoed of them all.  It slowly spread its wings  While we  Unaware of the danger,  Were busy writing our exams  That passed away  In the blink of an eye.  Alone  News of deadly Corona  Spreads like fire.  US is having a bad time. People are getting infected  In great numbers.  Stay home. Stay Safe.  The new mantra.  Unfortunately, my father is stuck there.  With nobody beside him.  Not even my mother,  All alone.  The Dilemma, The Decision  My mother with tears flowing through her eyes.  My father on the Zoom call.  Me staring at grown-ups.  Seeing them in a dilemma,  Whether my father should stay away  Or risk traveling to India.  Ecstatic  At last,  With the Ramayana in our hands,  A decision is made.   Papa will be coming back   Back to us  Back to India  Back to being a family.  Oh! How I missed him not being around!  He is back with us.  He is safe.    Next day,   LOCKDOWN comes as a nightmare.  India gets totally sealed up.  All international flights cancelled.  We prayed and prayed.  God was kind to us.  Plans canceled  Two trips for this spring;  Both canceled.  I was to go to Switzerland,  A ski trip from school.  Was looking forward to see the heavenly beauty  Of the mountainous  And the cold, amazing, rich city.  Second, to the US,  With my parents.  Rising cases in US!  Corona canceled it,  Canceled it all. 

Break-Up Letter to 2021

Jacqueline Gonzalez, 13 (Hoboken, NJ) Break-Up Letter to 2021 Jacqueline Gonzalez, 13 Dear 2021,  I’m not exactly sure how to say this, and I am sorry if this hurts you, but I think we should break up. We had great times together, like when we finally finished my family’s lake house. You even let me see my friends during our summer on the boat – something 2020 never let me do. We also got to attend my sister’s wedding and have one of the best days ever. From all of our memories together, I think my favorite was when you let me walk into school for the first time in almost two years!  Though we had some great times and memories together, I realized that I need to put myself first for once. While you treated me much better than 2020 ever did, there are too many things that made me want to leave and never turn back. You sent your friend, Omicron, over to my house without letting me know, ruining New Year’s for my family and me (talk about obsessive)! You also made my parents cancel our Disney trip again, because you were hanging out with your friend Delta. You always thought that joking around and messing with people’s lives was fine, but here’s a little advice: it’s not okay to mess with people’s lives, especially mine!  I know this won’t be easy to hear, but I met someone else. 2022 has so much more to offer and has promised me a good year to come. They provided me the opportunity to take a writing class to help me with the book I’ve tried to write throughout our relationship. 2022 also offered to fix the sleep schedule you helped ruin. Most importantly, 2022 offered me more time with friends and family that I haven’t seen, no thanks to your friends Omicron and Delta. 2021, it’s time for me to say my final goodbye. I’d say I hope you find a better partner, but let’s be honest, there’s no other partner better than me. So goodbye 2021, I hope you have a good life—without me!  Best of Luck,  Jacqueline