A year ago this week, schools in India closed, as did offices and other work ceased across the country. A few weeks after that, all of India and much of the world was plunged into complete lockdown. A year of home-schooling and home-working later, I have been reflecting on the past year.
With physical distancing and staying at home already in full swing from the start of March, 2020, the first full lockdown in India was announced on the evening of 23rd March, 2020, with just a few hours before enforcement at midnight. It was a very strict lockdown. There were no allowances to go out for exercise, only for the very essentials and only locally. Online purchasing was heavily encouraged where possible. Movement around the city required special permits. At the eleventh hour, my husband and I decided we would go and stay with his parents and brother for the lockdown period. So, we hastily packed a suitcase, woke up our son and dashed across the city before the midnight deadline. The initial period of lockdown was given as three weeks but in the end this was extended to seven weeks. During this time we didn't step out of the house at all.
A year on, I remember some of the uncertainty and confusion I felt. However, I wrote a poem on each of the first ten days of the lockdown and re-reading these now, they reveal many more of the raw feelings I had at the time. There was uncertainty about access to food and other essential needs and the plight of migrant labourers was beginning to unfold.
A year on, it seemed like the right moment to share some of these writings. Here is my poem from the second day of lockdown.
The second day of lockdown
Exhaustion brought about a deep, deep sleep.
My mind bringing thoughts, my body didn't want to keep.
Food, water, medicine and back again to food.
Will we have enough? How much have we accrued?
How can I ever know what those less fortunate feel?
Will they starve, fight, cry? I can't believe it's real.
How can I help when I'm indoors?
The news likening the virus to the world's greatest wars.
Relief as I get up and learn that we can access food.
The markets being open, completely lifts my mood.
Selfish, indulgent and greedy.
I have forgotten about the needy.
I relax into the day, coffee as normal and also oats.
Reading corona virus sufferers' anecdotes.
Run and play around with my little boy.
Turning anything we find into a new toy.
Working from home, typing in isolation.
Reading news of people trying to go out of station.
An easier day, knowing the rhythm and flow.
Familiarity comes quickly, moving to and fro.
Limited mobility, restricted to a home.
Grateful beyond words we had somewhere to go.
Comments