THE AUDACITY OF LOCK DOWN

I use to roam around town looking for the most popular, hot rocking events place to spend the weekend. You can call me Johnny Walker, always walking. Little did I know that sooner than now, there will be a lockdown.! I asked the big question, what happened to all the coolest areas I’ve planned to spend the weekend? I’m already into the 8th day, since the president announced the partial lockdown of Accra and Kumasi, and I’m feeling the boredom of being at home. I’m asking the question, when will all these be over?
For the past days, my mobile phone has become my only source of happiness, looking for the juiciest info on social media, checking to see where the COVID-19 infection numbers have reached. Netflix become my movie center, browsing to look for the most recent movies and series released. As I confine myself in my little chamber, I asked again, how long will this human imposed prison end?
Among all these, I’ve learned to intensify my writing, and reading skills and I’m sure fathers have now become teachers ones more at the classroom, made of home whiles mothers continue the nursing duties left by our teachers. As I skimmed through my archives of my songs, the lyrics of Michael David Rosenberg better known by his stage name, Passenger, comes to mind which goes like this;
Well you only need the light when it’s burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow.
Only hate the road when you’re missing home.
Everything you touch surely dies
’Cause you only need the light when it’s burning low.
Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart.
Wait, did I hear, there is going to be an extension of more weeks to the already imposed lockdown? Can you please check for me if it’s true?
Ha! another week? I’m beginning to missed my physical interaction with my good old friends, Koo Pia, Kofi Nyame and Adjoa Serwaa and Afia Maggie.
As hours turns into days, days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months, I can only anticipate for positive things to happen. Yes, its good to stay home in this trying time, as the world hope for a positive responses from world leaders in solving this pandemic, COVID-19.
Even though the stakes are high, looking at the rate of community spreading of this virus, its prudence, we stay at home, observe all the hygiene protocols and social distancing, we can hope for a better tomorrow.
I’m sure, when we sail through this waves of high turbulence, lots of us will have discovered new or additional talents.
Please, feel free to share with me , your new skills you learnt during this period, and you’ll be glad you did.

KOFI DARKO
kdarko56@yahoo.com