During the COVID-19 circuit breaker period, my class was tasked to write a poem for school that was related to COVID-19 as an exercise. I was inspired by observing the reactions of those around me and the community.

I used the term ‘the crowns’ as COVID-19 originated from the coronavirus, and the term ‘corona’ is latin for ‘crown’. The poem goes on to depict the feeling of when we first found out about the virus and the anxiety that many felt while we still were learning about it. ‘Blacks, blues and greens’ represent the most common mask colours, which we were encouraged to use to protect ourselves from the virus. I also remember the general reaction whenever there was a major shift in our daily life, like when the circuit breaker was imposed. There was an air of nervousness and uncertainty.

I wanted to convey the sentiment that we did not want to lose more people to the virus and let it win over us. I wanted to encourage people to stand up bravely against the virus together instead of running away from it and from the fact that more people were obtaining the disease. We had to fight our fears (we were tired of running and the time had come). I also wanted to draw the imagery of the PPE (personal protective equipment) in a hospital or a quarantine area of being an armour that would aid us in curing the patients with COVID-19 in the “battlefield”.

I believe that everybody must fight the virus by playing their part by keeping social distancing measures, not just medical workers who are fighting the war against it. We are the first line of defence. At the end of it all, we will conquer together as a community, both on our home ground and in the world.