.jpg)
POEM
1. Corona Says
by Vishnu S. Rai
Summary
In the poem, the
personified figure of Corona addresses human beings, challenging the notion
that it is solely responsible for the devastation caused by the pandemic. The
speaker firmly rejects the blame, asserting that humans themselves are
accountable for the disastrous consequences. Corona emphasizes that it did not
come alone but was brought into existence by human actions and behaviors.
The poem delves into the
irrational and irresponsible behavior of human beings towards nature. Humans
often view themselves as the owners and rulers of the earth, freely exploiting
its resources without considering the consequences. They forget that the earth
is a shared habitat for all living beings, and their actions have far-reaching
impacts on the delicate balance of nature.
The speaker holds a
mirror up to humanity, highlighting the arrogance and disregard for the
environment that have led to the current state of affairs. The pandemic, with
its global lockdowns, offers a glimpse of what happens when human activities
come to a halt. Nature starts to recover, the skies clear up, and pollution
diminishes. This serves as a positive aspect of the corona period, reminding us
that respecting nature and curbing our exploitative tendencies can lead to a
healthier planet.
However, the poem also
issues a warning. If human beings fail to change their irresponsible attitudes
and continue to exploit nature, more devastating pandemics and calamities will
follow. The speaker reminds us that Corona will eventually return, and its
impact will be even more severe. It is a call to action, urging humanity to
reflect on its relationship with the environment and adopt sustainable
practices.
The poem's underlying
message is clear: Earth does not solely belong to humans; it is a shared home
for all living beings. Nature demands respect and care, and only by
acknowledging this can we avoid future catastrophes and ensure a harmonious
coexistence with the planet and its inhabitants.
In conclusion, the poem
"Corona" serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of human
actions on the environment and the need for responsible stewardship of the
earth. It calls for a shift in attitudes towards nature, away from exploitation
and towards sustainable practices. By respecting and preserving nature, we can
create a healthier and more resilient planet, avoiding the dire consequences of
unchecked exploitation. The poem is a wake-up call for humanity to be more
conscious of its impact on the environment and to take collective action for
the well-being of the earth and all its inhabitants.
Understanding the text
a.) Who is the speaker in the poem?
The
speaker in the poem is Corona which has created severe impacts in the lives of
human beings. The name Corona needs no introduction. Corona is speaking to
human beings in the poem. It refused to be responsible for the death of
thousands of people and the destruction of the world economy. It did not come
alone but was brought here by humans. It was invited due to the result of human
behaviors and activities, which are not responsible for nature.
b.) Who claims that they are superior to all?
The
human beings claim that they are superior to all. Humans consider themselves to
be the owners of the entire earth and all living and non-living things. They
always use it according to their wish. They forget that the earth is a common
habitat for all living things. Here the speaker shows a mirror to humans.
Humans believe that they are the kings of creation and the rulers of the entire
earth. They think that all creation and other aspects of nature are their
slaves, which they can use as they please.
c.) Why has the speaker come to the Earth?
The speaker has come to the earth because it was
brought here by human beings. It was invited due to the result of human
behaviors and activities, which are not responsible for nature. The Speaker has
been here to take revenge of what human beings have done to the nature, to give
mother earth a little rest and to make human realize that they are not the
superior. Earth does not solely belong to human beings, so it must be shared
equally by all living things.
d.) What positive changes have occurred on Earth after the speaker's visit?
Various positive changes have occurred after the
speaker's visits on earth. In the long lockdown period, almost all human
activities have stopped. Motherland rested a little and nature has returned to
its original state as blue skies and a pollution-free atmosphere. Human learnt
to use natural resources properly, without destroying it haphazardly. That is a
positive aspect of the corona period. It also shows that if we don't abuse
nature, it will calm down again and we can avoid various calamities and misery
of our motherland and ourselves as well.
Reference to the context
a.) 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?
These lines have been extracted from Vishnu S.
Rai's poem 'Corona Says'. Corona is speaking to human beings in the poem. The
name Corona needs no introduction. It refused to be responsible for the death
of thousands of people and the destruction of the world economy. The speaker
rejects the blame and says that it is not, but the humans are responsible for
such great destruction.
But
the speaker who is talking to the human beings, scolds us for complaining the
loss. The speaker reminds us about the
bad aspects of war. It warns us not to ignore the inhuman behaviors and don't
count only the loss of the lives taken by it. He raises the question to count
the lives that have been lost in human wars as well.
It
did not come alone but was brought here by humans. It was invited due to the
result of human behaviors and activities, which are not responsible for nature.
It makes the men realize about the impacts of inhumane wars, where killed
millions of people and immeasurable loss in the environment. Here the speaker
shows a mirror to humans.
b.) Explain the following:
I will depart one day.
But remember
There’re many others like me.
They’ll come too.
If you don’t get rid of your inflated ego,
You’ll be back to your cave time
That you endured
Long, l o n g, l o n g ago …
These
lines have been extracted from Vishnu S. Rai's poem 'Corona Says'. Corona is
speaking to human beings in the poem. The name Corona needs no introduction. The
speaker is warning the human beings about future circumstances. It is informing
about its fellows who are similar to it.
Corona
warns that one day it will depart from the earth but if human beings don't get
rid of their inflated egos, they will come too. Humans consider themselves to
be the owners of the entire earth and all living and non-living things. They
always use it according to their wish. They forget that the earth is a common
habitat for all living things.
Here
the speaker shows a mirror to human beings. Human beings believe that they are
the kings of creation and the rulers of the entire earth. They think that all
creation and other aspects of nature are their slaves, which they can use as
they please. In that critical situation, human beings will be back to the caves
as the Stone Age. That will be the worst situation for human beings.
The
speaker warned human beings. Without a doubt, Corona will come back one day if
we don't change our irresponsible attitudes and behaviors towards nature, more
devastating pandemics will come with more death and destruction. Not only that,
but such behavior will eventually take us back to prehistoric times when people
used to live in caves and had to hunt for food. Earth does not solely
belong to human beings, so it must be shared equally by all living things
c.) What does the speaker mean in the following lines?
Explain.
The earth is not your property alone -
It’s as much ours as yours.
Corona is speaking to human beings in the poem.
The name Corona needs no introduction. The speaker rejects the blame and says
that it is not, but the humans are responsible for such great destruction. It
did not come alone but was brought here by human beings. It was invited due to
the result of human behaviors and activities, which are not responsible for
nature. He claims that the earth belongs to other creatures also apart from
human beings.
Human
beings are irrational and irresponsible towards nature. Human beings consider
themselves to be the owners of the entire earth and all living and non-living
things. Here, the speaker shows a mirror to human beings. Human beings believe
that they are the kings of creation and the rulers of the entire earth. They
think that all creation and other aspects of nature are their slaves, which
they can use as they please.
The speaker warns human beings. Without a doubt,
such irresponsible attitudes and behaviors towards nature, more devastating
pandemics will come with more death and destruction and will eventually take us
back to prehistoric times where people used to live in caves and had to hunt
for food.
Corona
as a speaker is making the human beings realize that the mother Earth belongs
to all the creatures not only the human beings. He reminds the human saying
that the mother Earth isn't their property alone. Earth does not solely belong
to human beings, so it must be shared equally by all living things.
Reference beyond the text
a.) What human behaviours are responsible for suffering in people's
lives?
Human
beings are irrational and irresponsible towards nature. Human beings consider
themselves to be the owners of the entire earth and all living and non-living
things. Here, the speaker shows a mirror to human beings. Human beings believe
that they are the kings of creation and the rulers of the entire earth. They
think that all creation and other aspects of nature are their slaves, which they
can use as they please.
The
human behaviors are the sole cause behind all these sufferings of the people.
Due to human egos of superiority and bad deeds, the present world is facing many
crises. Many people have lost their lives during this pandemic. Due to their
selfish nature, the earth and its people have faced critical problems. Their
so-called egos and wars have taken the lives of many people.
The
speaker is making the human beings realize that the mother Earth belongs to all
the creatures not only the human beings. He reminds the human saying that the
mother Earth isn't their property alone. Earth does not solely belong to human
beings, so it must be shared equally by all living things.
Here
the speaker shows a mirror to human beings. Human beings believe that they are
the kings of creation and the rulers of the entire earth. They think that all
creation and other aspects of nature are their slaves, which they can use as
they please. It's a kind of inflated ego of human beings, which ultimately lead
the humans in ancient time as their forefather's age after destroying
everything.
Without a doubt, human beings are irresponsible
attitudes and behaviors towards nature; more devastating pandemics will come
with more death and destruction and will eventually destroy the achievements of
the human beings as well. That's why, such irresponsible attitudes and
behaviors are solely responsible for the suffering in people's lives.
b.) How does an epidemic differ from a pandemic? Briefly
explain the impact of Corona Virus on human life and environment.
AN
EPIDEMIC is a disease that affects a large number of people within a community,
population, or region. On the other hand, a PANDEMIC is an epidemic that’s
spread over multiple countries or continents. A simple way to know the
difference between an epidemic and a pandemic is to remember the “P” in
pandemic, which means a pandemic has a passport. A pandemic is an epidemic that
travels.
An
epidemic is actively spreading; new cases of the disease substantially exceed
what is expected. More broadly, it’s used to describe any problem that’s out of
control. An epidemic is often localized to a region, but the number of those
infected in that region is significantly higher than normal. For example, when
COVID-19 was limited to Wuhan, China, it was an epidemic. The geographical
spread turned it into a pandemic. So, an epidemic is a widespread disease that
affects many people in a population whereas pandemic is a disease that affects
a wide geographical area and a large proportion of the population.
The
COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and
presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the
world of work. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is
devastating. Millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, and
undernourished people could increase up in the days to come.
Millions
of enterprises face an existential threat. Without the means to earn an income
during lockdowns, many are unable to feed themselves and their families. The
pandemic has been affecting the entire food system and has laid bare its
fragility. The pandemic has decimated jobs and placed millions of livelihoods
at risk. Small-scale farmers and indigenous peoples, being hardest hit.
Now
is the time for global solidarity and support, especially with the most
vulnerable in our societies, particularly in the emerging and developing world.
Only together can we overcome the intertwined health and social and economic
impacts of the pandemic and prevent its escalation into a protracted
humanitarian and food security catastrophe, with the potential loss of already
achieved development gains.
Best of Luck
.jpg)
