A New Beginning

by Aditi Nair, 12

Sitting.
Crunching.
Staring.
Glaring.

The sun gently
embraced the horizon
to meet the sky.
Colors dance and sing before
the early bird rises.

Beep,
Beep.
Over and again.
Time to rise before
the moon left the sky.

Usual,
the usual.
Pancakes smothered in syrup, and
blueberries squished on top.

All seems ‘normal’ except for one thing–
masks,
everywhere.
Donned all the time.

The virtual learning is about to begin–
screen-time,
more screen-time.
Time for a change to surface,
above all and beyond

Hope,
let us hope
for this pandemic to end.
For a new beginning to rise,
for there is hope
and hope is the essence of life.