Of A Child

Despair, despair in the air

Wreaking havoc, a microbe so rare;

Somewhere, a child has to transition –

To a full-time caregiver, to help her navigate –

Those dark days, his schizophrenic mother!

Somewhere, a child tosses and turns, unable to sleep,

He isn’t looking forward to the next day, dawn or dusk.

Somewhere a child goes back into the eye of the storm,

Scared to face the bruises-wounds, inflicted on his own.

Wondering whether to succumb and surrender

Or for once, just for this one time - face his fears!

Despair, despair in the air,

Courtesy a contagious fever, oh so rare!

No silver lining in sight, only heartaches hard to bear. 

Chronic cruelty for some,

Even graver than this pandemic scare.

Despair, despair in the air,

For a weary and scared child, stranded somewhere;

One day at a time, are the only thoughts he can spare.

Crisis of global proportions or not,

He lives in a perpetual nightmare!