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
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.
Very Nice!!