SABAH CARRIM
At the airport, on the plane
at the check-in counter, at the boarding gate
nurses, doctors, dentists everywhere
gloved, masked, only whispers, mostly stares
and for those who can’t hear
—and mostly for the lipreader
all this’s a living hell
Poor Chinese—kept at bay
eyed with disdain, eyed with suspicion
specially masked to cull the contagion
holding breaths, holding sneezes in
but the moment someone coughs
heads are turned
hearts skip a few beats
and a moment later, everyone’s vanished
as the saying goes: as quick as lightning
Poor Chinese, kept at bay
on the plane, seats are changed
for people tend to keep away
and yet, epidemic, pandemic, no one can say
—imagine how in one night
eating bats can change our lives
(but here’s a caveat—this might just be lies)
as well as an entire economy, the future of a country
whose prospects we know
are now gloomy
(and if you ask me,
this’s a perfect breeding ground
for a conspiracy theory)
Face masks now come in pretty designs
and some are what beauticians, garbage collectors
or Tintin in space would wear
others are like speedos, G-strings, and other
type of underwear
In the less crowded and more chilled out cabin
(where there are no Chinese)
a few non-Chinese are obviously amused
one—suffering from the common cold—
coughs, sneezes, and clears his throat
while his friends smile and chuckle
watching people pull out Dettol
The atmosphere on the plane is tense—
for the first time in my life
they haven’t sprayed insecticide;
aisle luggage, aisle obstructions
and unbuckled belts
are no longer a problem
henceforth nothing’s used, nothing’s enjoyed
and meals have never been so awful—
the steward’s not convinced of the chicken noodles
nor the grilled fish, and while passing it, asks:
Is this fine? Are you sure? Do take a look
—after all, the plane ride must be made a quick affair
pillows and blankets
despite their history of coffee and period
stains, stale saliva, see-ech-four
and ech-two-ess,
and the flimsy handled-by-all
one-size-fits-all not-loud-enough head
sets, now remain in their plastic covers
still sealed, still untouched