A Poem dedicated to My Teachers
By Sonakshi Seetohul
I want you to know
That I am grateful for your hard work
In helping me as I grow
For your constant understanding and for
Always being there when I need help and support
You guide my thoughts, share my achievements
And advise on my faults
You bring out the best in me
With each lesson you teach
I am full of motivation and curiosity
You make a difference in the life of each child
Those who are quiet and those who are wild
The wish to learn is priceless
It’s a gift you gave to me
For you do more than teaching
This much is plain to see
The dawn of each poet, each philosopher and king
Begins with their teachers and the wisdom they bring.
* * *
As the world comes to a halt
There is finally time now for everyone
to ‘stand and stare’ as WH Davies put it just over a century ago,
‘What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare
No time to see the woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass….
Life seemed busy with people working long hours
The economy in full swing
Children used to daily routines at home and school
Most people were planning their next holiday
As summer is the time to enjoy the weather
But the whole world came to a standstill
As Covid-19 appears from nowhere
And spreads all around the world
There is panic buying
There is sickness
There is death
Covid-19 stopped the world in its tracks
Leaving people unable to do their regular tasks
We are told to wash our hands
Use face masks
Practise social distancing
Streets are deserted
No longer meeting family and friends
Unable to do much except stand and stare from balconies and windows
As this is the only option to have a glimpse of the outside world
Parks and playgrounds near but deserted
As scientists identify the dangers of sharing. There is nowhere to go
There is no one to see
Travellers stranded in different countries around the world
Some on holiday, some away on business, some gone to work
Away from their family and friends
They are scared
Yearning to return to their homeland
But this temporary slowdown of human activity has had a profound impact on many species
With fewer people in urban environments,
Much less traffic on the roads and noise pollution at its lowest
Some species are making the most of their time
Wild animals are turning up in places they have not been seen in decades
Covid 19 is a virus impossible to see with naked eyes
But it seems that it is nature’s weapon in the fight against humanity
With hidden benefits, the lockdown has made the world realise that nature has so much to offer
As we look at the shapes of the cloud
we see pigeons walking in a group like family,
We can hear sweet birdsongs early in the morning
And notice how trees wave to us in the gentle breeze
Many of us are getting inspired by the beauty of Nature;
Come walk with me into the forest’s blessed abode
To see the wondrous beauty the Earth has bestowed upon us
We shall bask in the surreal splendour that surrounds us
And listen to nature orchestrating the forest’s magnum opus.
* Published in print edition on 7 August 2020
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