As soon as the world was alerted of the pandemic, chaos ensued and all the toilet paper rolls disappeared from supermarket stalls. People were afraid to step out of their houses for fear of catching the fatal virus. Everybody started using sanitizers and masks that hid their facial expressions making it extremely confusing for a person to know whether the other was smiling, laughing, cringing or angrily cursing at them from under their mask. That and the strain it put on our ears to make out the mumbling sounds reverberating inside each other’s masks. It was hell. The world seemed bleak and mundane all of a sudden as people watched each other from behind the safety of closed windows, silent frustration eating them up on the inside. However, during my time in lockdown, I found a way to harness my creative side, from playing multiple fun video games online to painting colorful patterns and images on rocks. My family and I would either go to the nearest nursery to purchase a bag full of white rocks or simply steal them from the pharmacy. I even painted on eggshells and stuck them on top of wooden sticks to keep in a very expensive vase that I bought from Islamabad. It’s safe to say that these creative hobbies of mine have made our home pretty aesthetically pleasing. Oh, before I forget I also made a blog page on Instagram to post all my writings and reviews about places I’ve visited before so please do check it out. I go by the name @food_for_thought912. Aside from all this, I hope everyone is doing well and are trying to find happiness in the little things and making the best out of their situation. Just remember to look at the positive side of things and don’t lose hope. This time too shall pass. Much love to everybody here. Bye!

I wrote a poem

about talking

to my walls

during covid

and they answered

in an echo that

went through me

and into my writing

a simple mess of

autobiography

that turned into a

contract

my walls

finally listening

For weeks I couldn’t write a thing.

Not one single solitary thing.

Start a story,

lose my way,

Begin a poem,

lines fester incomplete.

I had never felt

such a squander,

so incapable,

without vision.

After a while,

a month,

or maybe two,

little by little

words returned,

hope renewed,

faith restored,

in myself

and fellow man.

The covid lockdown has left me alone with my thoughts. On one hand I found out I think about some of the dumbest ideas ever. On the other hand I finally got the time I wanted to pursue my creativity without interruption provided I remember to eat every once in a while. I think the scariest part is no tedious task is more tedious than my tedious thoughts. I also got so good at tedious tasks that I can think up entire story arcs without sitting still. Sad part is my brain loves soap operas like cigarettes love nicotine. I now have a huge cache of anime memes on my phone and out of boredom keep starting new stories to the point I have a new alarm on my phone called the Stay on Task button. So creativity drives me nuts but I love my creativity like a protagonist loves a tsundere . . . sort of.

Where I had been accustomed

To audiences’ energy,

I now channel creations

Online but no less affably.

I do admit frustration

For writings often lack vibrance.

Arriving at one’s meaning

Is not discernable at once.

Forgive me if I wander.

I hope to entertain you now,

So clear your mind and listen. ...

I move you. ... Then I take my bow.