Covid-19
written by: Pravat Kumar Padhy
self-quarantine
even the shadow
shies away
last kiss–
the gap barricades
my extended hand
masked face
I identify the flowers
of the garden
24/7…
news headlines
about covid-19
noiseless
roadside trees
turn greener
dawn to dusk–
the street dogs
bark each other
winter rain
the signboard reads
covid-19 patients
rooftop
I listen to
sea of silence
the old man googles in isolation an art of living
Pravat Kumar Padhy has obtained his Masters of Science and Technology and Ph.D from Indian Institute of Technology, ISM Dhanbad. His poetry has been featured in many journals and anthologies. His poems received many awards, honours and commendations including the Editors’ Choice Award at Writers Guild of India, Asian American Poetry, Poetbay, Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival International Haiku Honourable Mention, UNESCO International Year Award of Water Co-operation, The Kloštar Ivanić International Haiku Award, IAFOR Vladimir Devide Haiku Award and others. His work is showcased in the exhibition “Haiku Wall”, Historic Liberty Theatre Gallery in Bend, Oregon, USA and tanka, ‘I mingle’ is featured in the “Kudo Resource Guide”, University of California, Berkeley. His poem, “How Beautiful” is included in the Undergraduate English Curriculum at the university level. He has seven collections of verse to his credit. He holds a place of honour in the World Who’s Who (Europa Biographical Reference, Rutledge, London).
