Author: Reena Saxena

बदल गया है ज़माने का चलन
घर पर हूँ पर लाचार नहीं हूँ
अपनी ज़िन्दगी से बेज़ार नहीं हूँ

मिल नहीं पाता हूँ अब उनसे
मुनासिब है भूल जाऊँ उन्हें
कह दो उनसे मैं तैयार नहीं हूँ

मिला है वक़्त सोचने का मुझे
जो भी किया अच्छा बुरा
अपने किये पे शर्मसार नहीं हूँ

करता हूँ कुछ ज्यादा काम
खटता हूँ रोज़ सुबह से शाम
शुक्र है कि बेरोज़गार नहीं हूँ

रखता हूँ अपना ख़याल ज्यादा
एक ज़िन्दगी तो हज़ार नेमत
मनाता हूँ खैर, बीमार नहीं हूँ

In Response to: Reena’s ~Exploration Challenge # 163

Someday, this will be over–
Only remembered like some half-felt and fading nightmare

Can this stuff kill me?
Possibly if I don’t take care
Staying home that is the key
This stuff I cannot see
And yet it is pandemic

Lockdown and no shopping spree
Be calm and say my prayer
Can this stuff kill me?
Washing hands thoroughly
Social distancing is required

Home office as I drink my tea
Some news virtually I can share
Staying home that is the key
When will this stuff be stopped?
If we don’t spread it to anyone else

I hope you are taking care of thee
Wherever you are don’t be scared
Can this stuff kill me?
Together we will find the solution
If we work for the common good

Nowhere is safe even at the quay
So I watch telly and sit on my chair
Staying home that is the key

Another day, like the one gone by

so not unlike the others before

segueing shamefacedly, silhouetted against the abnormal new normal

held captive, not by oppressive heat or gelid winds

but fear and concern

loneliness, my unwilling mistress

sometimes drowning me in a downpour of misery

at others keeping me awake staring at the skies through the polluted haze

my craving for human touch is intense

I look around the room

well, I have a picture pinned to my wall
an image of you and me and we are laughing
and loving it all

seems from another lifetime

memories etched deeply on my fragile heart

I am on the edge, teetering towards the inviting oblivion

clinging desperately to a modicum of sanity

the phone rings, shattering the frangible silence

“join zoom!” hisses harried sibling,
her tone dripping with blame

as my mind weaves between reality and fantasy

I see mom…

Image Credits – Unsplash
#1 CDC
#2 Hello I’m Nik
#3