The fight against the novel coronavirus has become a global affray that requires the collective effort of every creature –writers inclusive –and the application of every efficacious weapon at man’s disposal– pen inclusive. This is buttressed by Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s age-long aphorism that ‘pen is mightier than sword’.
Unarguably, this basically informed this journey to this classic anthology – the quest to employ the weapon of pen in the fight against coronavirus.
In response to our Call for Submission which lasted for 30 days, a total of 249 beautiful poems and essays were received from writers from different countries of the world, jostling for space in the anthology. However, after a series of vetting, the editorial team found 97 entries worthy for the anthology, particularly with regard to adherence to the theme.
These writers, employing the tool of creativity, and toeing the path of experience and art diversity, masterfully dissect the theme, unleash their ripostes and make headway towards defeating the world’s latest enemy – coronavirus. It was the conglomeration of these ninety-six classical works of these writers that gave birth to this masterpiece – Ripostes of Locked Down Voices, which is a must-read for everyone.
Obviously, with this publication, another feat has indeed been recorded in this global fight against the monstrous virus christened ‘COVID-19’. And this will hauntingly stand as global writers’ common ‘voice’ and ‘punch’ in this universal fight, even for generations to come.
From the book:
THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC (THE FACELESS TORMENTOR)
BY AJAYI OLUWAFERANMI DEBORAH
At first, it was a story to some people
Then it became reality to all people,
One by one, bit by bit, people to people,
It spread round to the east, west, south, and north
It planted fear in innocent souls, what an ‘Angst’!!!
One by one, bit by bit, people to people, the world is
humbled, little by little.
Days filled with the torturing presence of death,
Weeks filled with the overflowing tears of men,
Months filled with counting numbers of the dead,
The earth filled with helpless and hopeless souls,
Mourning voices of men fill every nation,
Different voices from different angles of the earth.
The presence of the faceless tormentor on the earth,
Tortures every living soul of the earth,
The fresh bodies, the grey haired,
It knows no one, it pities no one, and it spares no one,
The noble, hopeless, the leaders tremble, the followers confused,
Every soul helpless.
Things seem to get really critical,
Every soul needs to get really practical,
Something practical can make things seem magical,
Few instructions, simple obedience,
Little encouragement, renewed and hopeful soul,
One by one, people by people, little by little, things seem magical.
Things seem to get really critical,
Every soul needs to get really practical,
Something practical can make things seem magical,
Individuals, united, families, united,
Harmony in states, oneness among nations,
One by one, people to people, little by little.
Things become magical.