Poetry in Times of Lockdowns and Isolation

Book excerpt: Suddenly the COVID-19 Pandemic hit Europe and due to its rapid spread Lockdowns had been enforced by governments. Here in Austria, in the heart of Vienna, the poet would experience a completely changed city, reminding him of a ghost town. During the First Lockdown, he traveled in empty trains and streets without people, for several weeks, musing and reflecting about this change of life in the city. At times, he loses the face of a friend through abstinence, he used to meet at St Stephen's Square, though friends would be in contact through the mobile phone, yet personal meetings are still most important to the poet and he misses them. Medical matters are questioned, as well as the products of inoculation, and besides information given seems controversial. In this situation, the poet remains at most times of the day at his writing desk and muses about his quality of life. During the Second Lockdown, matters conducting a usual daily life became for most people very difficult, to say the least. However, it seemed to stir up the poet's memory banks. During the time shopping for necessary food items, the poet observed extreme silence, except for the neighbor's knock on the door, checking on him, exchanging views on the government's offices of health, the wearing of masks, and the changing laws about inoculations. The poet's mind wandered back to his experiences in life, friends, his occupation with art, and remembrances that suddenly appeared in clarity.