Normalcy

Humid discomforts, lethargic body, monotonous mornings.

New date, new year, old us.

Fresh newspaper, old news,

Fresh death count, old scams.

Wash hands for 20 seconds.

Every nook and crevice, for 20 seconds.

Vote, vaccine, vanity.

Let that sink in.

 

Unstable wi-fi, earphones in, enter meeting.

Class recordings, copious notes, faulty connection.

Audio off, internal screaming, ‘am i audible?’

Video off, dark circles, communal suffering.

‘any doubts?’, deathly silence, ‘let’s continue’.

Voices cracking, indistinct words, ‘do you understand?’

I don't. ‘yes ma’am’.

Countless questions, unsatisfactory answers.

Class dismissed.

 

Have a great day ahead.

Indeed.

 

New day, new class.

Let’s do a recap, students.

 

Mysterious illness, brace yourself.

Viral contagion, spreads like wildfire.

‘simple cough-and-cold’. No need to worry.

Diseased, disoriented, dead.

‘that only happens abroad, we are strong.’

Close the borders.

‘wear a mask’. Exclusive. Privileged.

Mass hoarding, panic purchasing, prices skyrocketing.

Community congregations. Migrants walking.

Special trains. First-class service. Best nation.

‘our country braves covid’. Unaffected. Are you sure?

 

Ready for round 2?

Holy dips, shouting slogans, drug crimes.

No hospital beds, no funeral seat.

No time to rest, no place to sleep.

‘no shortage of oxygen’. Just cancel the tweets.

Anti-national. Traitor. ‘didn’t you take the jab?’

How dare you speak?

I can’t breathe. I can't breathe.

Call the helpline. Beep.

Stand in line. Beep.

No vacancy. Beep.

Levels dropping. Beep.

‘no need to panic. Everything’s under control.’ beep.

Eerily quiet.

Added to the death count. Or maybe not.

 

Bodies piled high, humanity down low.

Mass graves. Mass cremations. 

No dignity, just degradation.

Floating bodies, funeral flowers.

No time to weep, the dead keep coming.

 

‘our condolences to the family of the deceased.’

That’s all.

 

Get vaccinated soon.

Time to pay up.

Not your basic human right.

Just cash, so cough it up.

 

Mask up. Double layer protection.

Mask your sins well.

 

Wash your bloody hands.

“all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”

Are they clean yet, big brother?