(Inspired by ‘Ekushe Aain’ from the magical collection of Bengali poems ‘Abol Tabol’ by Sukumar Ray)
Strange the laws of Corona Land
Not everyone can understand
Just when the virus starts its spread
Get this quite straight in your head
Don’t go hanging out in town
Stay 21 days in lockdown
Should you want to stray around
And still ensure you’re safe and sound
Stay afar from everyone
Deny Corona its free run
Pick sanitisers from the stands
And 21 times, wash your hands
Closed are markets, shops and malls
Movie halls and roadside stalls
Time to tend to household chores
Make visits to the corner stores
Who knows how the future plays
Stock up for 21 days
The old and infirm please beware
The virus really doesn’t care
Who it bites and who goes free
It thrives on poor immunity
Build up strength and ring the chimes
Chant a hymn 21 times
If fever or a harsh dry cough
Or pains and aches makes going rough
Maybe the virus now has caught
It even perhaps maybe not
Quarantine must then be done
For 14 days or 21
This will not last, we will endure
To Corona we will show the door
Hold your patience, keep the trust
In trying times, this is a must
When this is past, we can afford
To 21 times, thank the Lord
09 April 2020
