Page 62 - Magazine

A New Normal or Absolutely not Normal

I’ve heard there is a ‘new normal’ in place, a new phase
No more warm hugs nor the gentle handshakes
Stay away! sport not, those cheerful smiles on the faces
Even happiness seems buried behind the colourful masks.

Living rooms empty of gossips and laughter
of friends who would drop in without a matter.
Families are staying put under a roof, all day long
but with all eyes on the screens, there is no time to get along.

Weddings and festivals passing by, why there are no festivities in the air?
Months long waiting, but all gone vain, God! this is not fair.
No long drives nor visiting the granny , waiting in gloom,
No frolicking with cousins or friends, just chit chats on virtual chat room.

Netflix, Amazon or Hotstar- which movie do you want, my pal?
But, lost is the fun of hanging around in the malls

And posting selfies and updates on the facebook wall
Malls with no footfall, no viewers at the movie halls.

I long for those hateful alarms, shaking me out of my comfy bed
The early morning chaos, before running to catch the school bus.
Schools have come home too, what then dear, is the big fuss?
No more tiffins to pack, nor the joy of stealing your friend’s bread.

Working from home, or only work, and no home?
Absent is the excitement of returning from work, to one’s home.
How I miss the joy ride in the route bus number twenty two!
So stuffy with sweat, heat and chatter of those fifty two.

Singing, laughing and trying to run inside the moving bus
Quickly gobbling the lunch, left unfinished while playing with friends.
Childhood has got shut within the cage, is this fun?
Parks and play grounds dull, despite the shining sun!

Country’s growth going on a downward scale
With no work nor wages, future looking so dark and pale.
Is this what they call the ‘new normal’?
Then how I wish it changed and became absolutely abnormal!

By: S.Veena | Dept In-charge, The Dept of English

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