Corona Says

The poem "Corona Says" was written by Nepali poet Vishnu S. Rai, who was educated in India, Nepal, and the United Kingdom. He is a retired professor at TU who taught English Language Education. In this poem, the author teaches about a pandemic (COVID-19) that has a disastrous effect on human life.

This poem addresses the present coronavirus crisis and its devastating influence on human lives. This is a clever satire on human behavior and views. This poem views Covid-19 as a byproduct of human handling of nature.

The speaker tells the man not to cry and curses him for the harm. He stated that humans' foolish behavior had summoned him (corona), and he had no choice but to watch them suffer and perish. For speaking, the number of deaths caused by war exceeds that of a pandemic. The poem criticizes man's perceived superiority over other creatures.

The pandemic calls into question our apathy to the living species that soar through the air, live in the oceans, and crawl on land, as well as the trees that supply oxygen. These organisms are classified as slaves. We will either murder or sell them, depending on our wishes.

The poem also acknowledges some of the disease's good benefits. During the pandemic, the sky is clean of dust and smoke because there is no human activity. People feel like animals confined to a zoo. The pandemic has enabled the planet to rest.

The speaker wants humanity to first understand themselves, even if they profess to have complete control. He believes that humans should recognize that the world is a common home for all organisms. The speaker encouraged us by claiming that the disease may be abolished while also reminding us that there are many other ailments from which we could suffer. It cautions us that if we continue to engage in unethical behavior, we risk causing irreparable harm to ourselves and our culture.

Some Important Questions

1. What does the speaker mean when he says:

But have you ever counted
How many have died so far
Because of you and your wars?

ans: In the given lines, the speaker blames humans for conflicts and the loss of life. War has far more devastating implications and effects than the pandemic. Wars are caused by disagreements over resources and land, or by a government's desire to expand its influence, power, and authority. Warring parties and governments never consider the ramifications for their citizens. War has claimed the lives of millions of people and destroyed their homes. The aftermath of conflicts is inflicting people with physical and psychological harm.

2. Explain the following:

I will depart one day.
But remember
There are many others like me.
They’ll come too.
If you don’t get rid of your inflated ego,
You’ll be back in your cave time
That you endured
Long, long, long ago …

ans: In the excerpt provided, the speaker warns us to stop our egoistic behavior. Regardless of who we are, we must conserve nature and not violate natural laws. By saying the above sentence, the poet reminds us that while the pandemic can be handled, they may succumb to other terrible diseases as a result of their actions, and they may ultimately be responsible for the demise of human civilization.

3. What does the speaker mean in the following lines? Explain.

The earth is not your property alone –
It’s as much ours as yours.

ans: In the following sentences, the speaker implies that the earth is the shared habitat of all living creatures. Everyone has an equal right to use the earth's resources to sustain their lives. But we humans rule over others, thinking we are better and robbing them of resources. The speaker is concerned about increased human pressure on the natural environment. They have monopolized all natural resources to their advantage, even though the earth is home to all living species. In the name of development and advancement, people are destroying other creatures' food sources and habitats. As a result, the entire ecosystem is gradually decimated.