Our Pandemic

A collaboration with poets and illustrators who live in Singapore. Explore the series here.

Under the PandemicHou Wei

00:00 / 01:36

Under the Pandemic by Hou Wei

Once ago
Crowds feasted below domes
Glasses clinked with such abandon
Yet now delicacies are filled only inside shriveled paper boxes.

曾经
在穹顶之下与众人大快朵颐，觥筹交错是件何等惬意之事，如今却只能把这珍馐美味盛在干瘪的饭盒之中。

Once ago
Confidants who met, could embrace, could touch, without partition
Yet now a horizontal stroke of social distance lies between us all.

曾经
投契的朋友见面，彼此能毫无隔阂的拥抱、击掌、握手，如今在大家之间却横亘着一道社交距离

Once ago
Burning incense wafted through temples, holy songs chimed through churches yet now the masses are no longer, it's empty barren and soundless.

曾经
香火鼎盛的庙宇，天籁回荡的教堂如今早已人潮不在，清寂无声。

Once ago
Work was tough, pay was meagre
For this I was full of grumble, incessant complaint, anticipating this dreaded job's end.
Now if told that work resumes tomorrow,
I count myself charmed.

曾经
工作的艰苦，微薄的收入。对于此自己总是牢骚满腹，抱怨不断，巴望着这份工何时能到尽头。如今当得知明天能够照常开工，才发觉自己是幸运的。

Once ago
Speaking of life and death, despite having lived past thirty, they remained distant topics.
Now with daily climbing numbers of infected cases, fear of unknowns fill my heart, as death remains so far away, yet so extremely close by.

Once ago
We whom loved life,
now value life yet so much more.
Wear masks, wash hands often,
head out less.

曾经
关于谈及生死，尽管年过而立，我仍旧认为这是个很遥远的话题。如今随着每日不断攀升感染病例，心中充满了未知的恐惧，死亡是如此之远，但又非常之近。

曾经
热爱生活的我们，如今更加珍惜生命。
戴口罩、勤洗手、少出门。

Under the pandemic,
no one is an island.
The day when this pandemic lifts,
it will be just as how it once was.

疫情之下，没有人是一座孤岛。
待到疫情驱散日，方是往昔复归时。

The Death of WishesMD Sharif Uddin

00:00 / 02:02

The Death of Wishes by MD Sharif

“I want to go to Mostofa Minimart and eat two plates of briyani at Fakhruddin, chat on the fourth floor of City Square.”
Kissing hot tea and blowing smoke.

“I wish to sit in the front seat on the top deck of bus number 67 and walk around the narrow streets of the city then buy a three dollar big sweep ticket.”
Fly in the sky of dreams!

“I want to go to the clothing store in Bugis Village unnecessarily! I want to read various books in Kinokuniya or City Book Room! I wish to climb the grassy hills of Marina Bay and Botanic Gardens, spend the whole day in Jurong East and Tempanis Market! I want to dive into the murky waters of the East Coast Lagoon and visit Universal Studios, Sentosa, too! I wish to walk in the morning and evening around Dhoby Ghaut MRT, read poetry sitting in the National Library. I want to go to Pulau Ubin. I wish to ride a bicycle! I want to go to Jewel. I wish to listen to the song of the fountain while lying down!”

But wishes are lost in the city. All desires are blocked by four walls.

I am a monk at night.

The day is dust!

Covid-19 Cooking LessonShy Lhen Esposo

00:00 / 01:36

COVID-19 Cooking Lesson by Shy

This sambal nasi lemak chilli,
spicy garlic butter linguini
the crunchy, crispy lamb chops,
craving season while stay at home.

The miso, yes!
the dish that makes me crazy.
Someone thought I can't cook pasta well,
I whispered softly and smiled
while she nagged at me.

Additional dish for this moment,
quarantine makes me feel like a chef
A 15-minute garlic prawn udon
you're gonna love it until the end.

What else could I do while being locked-down
gardening, and taking care of the chickens
laying egg every day in the garden
feeding guppies in the pond
and this cute poodle dog
I will never ever get bored.

Poetry journal after chores,
missing home chatting with my kids,
missing home and my fate.
Seeing them all before bedtime
is my antidote of loneliness.

Globalisation by Rengarajan

Man isolated himself
But Nature came together.

மனிதன் தனிமைப் படுத்திக்கொண்டான்.
இயற்கை ஒன்றுகூடிவிட்டது.

People who never used to take a second glance at their parents even,
Are now worried sick about their grandparents
Yes,
They finally realise the value of Granny’s remedies.

பெற்றோரையே!
திரும்பிப் பார்க்காதவர்கள்
இப்போதுதான் பாட்டியைப் பார்க்கிறார்கள்
ஆம்,
பாட்டி வைத்தியத்தின் உண்மை அறிகிறார்கள்.

Man could only create his own kind in a closed lab,
But Mankind’s enemy multiplies itself out in the open.

மனிதன் மனிதனை ஆய்வகத்தில்
படைத்தான்.
மனிதனுக்கு எதிரி வெட்டவெளியில் உருவாகிறது.

Yesterday, our world is open and flourishing, they said.

உலகம் பரந்து விரிந்தது என்றார்கள் நேற்று,

But today, 1 metre by 1 metre, they say.

1m க்கு 1m என்கிறார்கள் இன்று.

Sugi-Poem-ReadingSugiarti Mustiarjo

00:00 / 02:09

Look What You've Done (COVID-19) by Sugi

My hand-me-down trainers frozen at the corner
Begging my feet to warm up it soul and serve its purpose
“Walked me in circles so you won’t break the circuit breaker.”
No dear, wait until it’s over
I will take you for a great adventure

I hold memories with my homies dearly
Eating bakso under the trees is our Sundays activity
We danced shamelessly towards Monday
While Eagle’s eyes watching us tirelessly
But no worries
We have the grasses as a security

Rumour has it;
“It take virus to empty the space “
We thought the green carpet was reserved for us to rest

It’s impossible to see my friends and enemies
Thanks to covid-19, I feel so lonely
Covid -19 is like Halloween comes way too early
Not friendly but deadly

The closure of swimming pool at condos is so joyful
Now they know the meaning of CAN SEE BUT CAN’T TAKE A DIP!
For us the pool is always closed
Even when it’s open

Social distancing is became a THING, while chatting is the new crime
Four walls and nothing to see
Just the best memories of 2019
Thanks to you covid-19