“Come home” my dad told me
It wasn’t a request, it was a command
Within an hour, I was at home
Don’t think this would’ve been possible before

“Take care of mum while I’m away”
He said as he packed his bags
He was going on a trip he couldn’t say no to
And he was worried for his wife

Before the parasite changed the world
My mom would’ve been left alone
She can take care of herself
But my dad still worries for her

Today it is possible for him to worry less
The virus changed all of this
It wrecked lives and ruined plans
But it brought families closer

Normality in the days of old
consisted of the freedom of going out
living a life for the sake of Instagram likes
while secretly wishing for being left alone

Normality today is entirely different
While Instagram likes still exist for some reason
priorities have shifted for many among us
family time and me time became a must

Normality is often overrated
When people say I wish things were back
I hope they are not talking about being too busy
or the countless hours wasted in the commute

Normality is often overrated
When people say I wish things were back
I hope they are not talking about being unhealthy
due to not taking care of where our hands’ve been

Normality is often overrated
When people say I wish things were back
I hope they are talking about offline classes
and the memories made in a classroom

Normality is entirely destroyed
Online classes sucking the energy from students
No will to study or to learn anything
but just be a token for attendance

The new normal is different
Companies now find more time to work
Than engage in pointless meetings
Or micromanaging supervisors

The new normal is different
Students form bonds over the internet
Not fully open, neither fully reserved
But no real, deep connections made

Do I love the new normal?
It’s a hard question to answer
Well, who am I kidding – not really
But this is a normal that I am finding good stuff in

Soon, it will change and maybe even drastically
But it will be a change coming unexpectedly
Adaptation is the only way forward
For I cannot fight with the cycle of time

–Surya T