Thread by @amit_pawa

I had a desire to pen another of my #PawaPoems -this time, a non-rhyming-type. Here goes...

A whole New World

The alarm goes off at 0530,
A battle of the snooze alarm versus my state of wakefulness then ensues,
I struggle to get out of bed- that much has not changed !

1/n

I shower and dress for work - no longer wearing suits or chino-blazer combos - they don’t do well when thrust within the depths of the Washing machine during my nightly “return from work corridor strip routine”.

2/n

Heading out of the door I double check my belongings citing my Morning Mantra - “Phone, Keys, Santiser, mask”
No longer needing my wallet- when was the last time i used cash anyway?

3/n

I walk briskly to the train station,
Street lights highlighting my journey.
I recall the streets being deserted at this time of the morning- but they seem different somehow, a foreboding sense of still all around-even the squirrels and foxes I encounter on my way seem wary.
4/n

I arrive at the station-the few people there already seem distant, distracted,
Eyes scanning phones as they peer over the tops of masks,
Flicking through the news, Twitter or Instagram,
5/n

Occasionally looking up, glimpsing briefly at the array of novel fashion wear adorning the faces of their travel companions

6/n

I arrive at work, pick up my list & start seeing patients,
As I enter each room, adorned with facemask & gloves,
I remind myself not to shake hands,
That part still feels odd - a barrier to the normal introduction that cements the relationship between anaesthetist & patient.
7/n

I head to theatre, hoping that today will not be the day when we are told intubation teams are called back into action,
Hoping that we won’t go back to the days of March, April and May 2020 - when times were bleak and the future seemed so scary.
8/n

Daily activities feel abnormal.
PPE seems excessive, but could prevent me from catching or passing the virus to my patient.
My glasses fog as I attempt to cannulate. I’m sure my vision has deteriorated- perhaps I’m just getting old?
9/n

We approach the end of the day,
Finally It’s time to head home.

So here we are in this whole new world.
Where are we headed?
I really have no idea?
What is this new normal?
When will we be able to meet others and socialise again?
More questions than answers.
10/n

All I can say is that each day I wake with that sense of discomfort in the pit of my stomach.
With the fear that we are not through the worst of it.
I hope we’ll get through to the other side ok - surely the future must be brighter - it’s got to be hasn’t it?

End.

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