Team Ahimsa Blog Relay, Various Contests

Day #1: A Pandemic-al Birthday. - BLOG RELAY, JUDGED

Day #1: A Pandemic-al Birthday.

Don’t breathe each others’ air, they said
This pandemic means a lot to dread.
Stay indoors, meet only on Zoom
If you sneeze or cough, get a closed room.

So the family thought they’d celebrate
Keeping all the rules, yet making it great.
When my cousin turned sixty last September
His brother threw a party to remember.

Everyone he knew joined in
Friends, students, colleagues, kith and kin.
My cousin teaches classical music
He makes it fun, he makes it stick.

So, on the Zoom meet that day,
We heard his students sing and play.
I learned a lot about him I didn’t know before
He teaches music – and a lot more.

Some of them said he’s like a parent
Nurturing their growth, stern yet patient.
From him they learned to practice every day
To play while they learn and learn while they play.

This is something quite ironic
A celebration enhanced by the pandemic
These students, now scattered world-wide
Pandemic-ally, I had them by my side.

I wouldn’t have known what they had to say
If I hadn’t ‘met’ them online that day.
We got together because of covid
And I’m thankful that we did.

Till then, he was just a cousin
My Dad’s older brother’s son.
Now, he’s someone I’m proud to know
He’s helped so many performers grow.

Seeing their outpouring of gratitude
Has given me a whole new attidude
If it hadn’t been for the virus – covid
We wouldn’t have done what we did.

We’d have had a conventional party.
Joked around and eaten hearty.
But this way, we shared something deep
To cherish, to treasure – forever to keep.

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