Lyla Hershkovitz, 10Valley Glen, CA Gone Lyla Hershkovitz, 10 Gone She drifts away Crumbling As I hold her hand, it crinkles Lifeless Drained She says something I cannot understand, Maybe because I’m not thinking Fluids drip out of full bags, The nurses detach the suctions As if they want her to melt away Her ring slips off, I don’t catch it It’s like being a baby and wanting to tell your mother you love her It’s like not being able to express I get chills, and my stomach drops The beeping of a pumping heart monitor stops We’re done
Poetry
Covid Superheroes, a poem by Devanshi Das, 13
Devanshi Das, 13New Delhi, India Covid Superheroes Devanshi Das, 13 It’s been days since she was home Leaving her family and kids behind In the same city, living in a small hotel room After a long day of hospital work, A video call at night with her kids Was her solace and keeps peace of mind. As the sun rises, Sunita geared in all white Steps out to enter her ward, a danger zone Every morning comes with a promise of hope For a better day and tougher war to fight. The enemy is lurking somewhere unknown and unseen Locked inside homes, people on road not to be seen There stands Kamla, clutching her kid in her arm Wielding a baton with ill fitted khaki uniform Leaving behind a sick husband at home She pleads, cajoles and forces people to leave the road And, remain behind the safe walls of their home As the enemies on the street hideously roam. Making the world come to a halt Corona is running fast, far and wide, but not caught With the enemy, Ruchika is running with a mike in hand A camera following her, ever ready to file a report A story on the virus-run and how a Covid-war has just begun Informing people at home and their scarier mind She is the light of hope and their roving eyes. The stillness rules at the busy corner of a street The usual roar of the road is now without traffic There walks Leelabati, with a broom in her hand She sweeps the streets, unafraid of the corona’s deadly dance A loosely hanging mask as her only defense She had to work, as sanitizing the street was more important To chase the virus and defeat its crippling attack. They all are like you and me, Living with their fears, worries and anxiety But warriors as they are, leaving behind their comfort They choose to step out to danger for our sake So that we remain alive, we stay safe. Salute to the courage, salute to their determination Respect our superheroes’ commitment to our great Nation.
Overwhelming Panic, a poem by Samson Brown, 13
Samson Brown, 13Cary, NC Overwhelming Panic Samson Brown, 13 Sickness Darkness Silence The muffled tones Of my friend voices Words I don’t understand Sounds I wish not to hear The Darkness all around me, Swallowing me Is this death? No breath escapes my lips My chest aches I know I should breathe But I can’t I hear My friends’ voices Behind me They don’t know They don’t know I’m being swallowed And they’re blissfully Ignorant They do not know My pain My heartache The suffocating They do not know Do they even know I’m here? Maybe I should call for help But they don’t answer They don’t know I’m gone now No one can help me Not breathing Not moving Yet shaking, somehow Maybe that’s how I know I am still alive But I’m not Both Alive And Dead But neither Somewhere In-between
