The Pandemic Poem

The Pandemic (Text)

Longing for a knock at the door
This Eid too passed under siege.
Paralysed , the city of Paradise
quietly witnessed the withering
of blossoming flowers.
Asleep, the city of temples
alone mourned the death
of sparkling faces.
Ambushed in the mesh of fear
no requiem held for the dead.
Harassed in darkness
my pained heart pounds
at the tourmenting images
flashing from the televison sceen.
People gasping for breath
young bodies on ventilators
on the burning pyres
wafting into dense smoke.
There is no space
at the shamshaans,
at the qabristana,
and many floating on the banks of a river
My soul, devastated, asks,
Will the night of sorrows ever end?
Will the sun of life rise again?
Will the breeze of hope blow again?
Will the scent of flowers spread again?
Will the spring of colours splash again?
Will the bird of love sing again?
The songs of love, of joy, of life …….

Introduction: The poem talks about the hard times during the pandemic, describing a city facing loss, death, and the speaker’s emotional pain. It ends with questions about hope and whether better days will come.

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Questions and Answers

1. What does the poem refer to?
Answer: The poem refers to the impact of the pandemic, describing the city’s struggles, loss of lives, and the emotional toll on the speaker.

2. Comment on the mood of the poem.
Answer: The mood of the poem is somber and reflective, with a sense of mourning and despair.

3. Pick out the words which are suggestive of pathos in the poem.
Answer: Words suggestive of pathos in the poem include “siege,” “paralyzed,” “death,” “ambushed,” “harassed,” “gasping,” and “devastated.”

4. What do you think the questions at the end of the poem suggest?
Answer: The questions at the end of the poem suggest a longing for relief and hope amid the current challenges, questioning whether the difficult times will ever come to an end.

5. Do you think that the poem captures a particular point of time during the pandemic?
Answer: Yes, the poem captures a specific point in time during the pandemic, referencing events such as Eid passing under siege, bodies on ventilators, and the overwhelming situation at cremation grounds.

The poem is about a city facing tough times during the pandemic. It describes sadness, death, and the speaker’s pain. The city is portrayed as paralyzed, and the poem ends with the speaker wondering if hope will return. The theme is the impact of the pandemic and the longing for better days. Poetic devices, like strong emotional words and vivid descriptions, make the feelings and scenes powerful in the poem.

Poetic Devices:
The poem uses words that create strong feelings (pathos), like “siege,” “paralyzed,” and “gasping.” It also paints vivid pictures with phrases like “city of Paradise,” “flashing images,” and “burning pyres.”

Theme:
The main theme is the impact of the pandemic, showing the city’s struggles and the speaker’s emotional suffering. The questions at the end express a longing for hope amid difficult times.

The Pandemic Poem

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