Windows to the Soul
As hugs turn into virtual high-fives
And pajamas become our cocoons,
As sanitizer turns into a balm for our weary nerves
And TP becomes our most prized possession,
We lumber out of hibernation every morning
With nowhere to go but the couch.
The only thing we’re creating these days
Is a six feet force field around us.
As we fight to flatten the curve,
This insidious little bug flattened our lives.
Zoom-ing through our days is ok,
But i-contact is not eye contact.
As I walk around I see a sea of masks
Like extras in a dystopian movie,
Their eyes constantly scanning for threats, avoiding mine
I can’t read them, can’t tell what they’re thinking.
“Windows to the soul,” they said.
Not anymore.
I’m not afraid but sad,
As our humanity falls victim to social distancing.
******
Riya Arora is currently a sophomore at The Harker School. She finds her passion in social advocacy and giving a voice to those without one. Already involved in several non-profit organizations, she is also the founder of her own called Touched By MS. Outside of school, she is a 2x national medalist in figure skating and is on the San Jose Sharks synchronized team.
