Corona Says [Vishnu S Rai's Poem] Summary and Exercise

The poem "Corona Says", written by Vishnu S. Rai, addresses the devastating global crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic. It serves as a subtle satire on human conduct, portraying the virus as a direct byproduct of humanity's irresponsible treatment of nature.

Core Theme: The poem highlights human arrogance and the destructive impact of our actions on the environment, urging a shift away from our inflated egos.

About the Author: Vishnu S. Rai

Vishnu S. Rai (1951-) was educated in India, Nepal, and the UK. He taught English at Tribhuvan University for three decades and retired as a Professor of English Language Education. Known as a "poet of human emotions," he writes in both English and Nepali. His notable works include Vagabond Verses (English poems), Sudama (Nepali epic), Paheli (Nepali novel), and Realities (English play).

Detailed Summary

The speaker of the poem is the Coronavirus itself. It commands human beings not to cry or curse it for the ongoing death and destruction. Instead, the virus argues that it was "invited" by humanity's irrational behavior and relentless pollution of the Earth.

The poem sharply criticizes human superiority. While humans consider themselves the undisputed kings of the Earth—freely exploiting, selling, and killing other creatures—they are now trapped in their homes, while nature reclaims its space.

Nature's Healing: Because humans are caged inside, the Earth has finally gotten a chance to take a rest.

Positive Impacts Highlighted

1. The blue sky is clean and clear without dust and smoke.
2. The air is purified.
3. Animals and other creatures are roaming free.
4. The ecosystem is given time to recover.

The Final Warning! The speaker threatens that if humanity does not shed its inflated ego, other fatal diseases will follow, ultimately driving human civilization back to the cave age.

Understanding the Text (Exercise)

Who is the speaker in the poem?

The Coronavirus (Corona) is the speaker in the poem.

Who claims that they are superior to all?

Human beings claim that they are superior to all other creatures on Earth.

Why has the speaker come to the Earth?

The speaker has come to the Earth to take revenge on humans for their irrational behavior and widespread destruction of nature.

Reference to the Context

1. Wars vs. Pandemic

But have you ever counted
How many have died so far
Because of you and your wars?

The speaker sharply satirizes human hypocrisy. While humans curse the virus for the loss of life, they conveniently ignore that their own manufactured wars—fought over land, resources, and power—have historically caused vastly more deaths, physical devastation, and psychological trauma than the pandemic.

2. The Threat of Extinction

I will depart one day. But remember
There’re many others like me.
They’ll come too.
If you don’t get rid of your inflated ego,
You’ll be back to your cave time...

The virus acknowledges that human wisdom will eventually control this specific pandemic. However, that same wisdom drives the exploitation of nature. If humans push the environment beyond its limits, deadlier diseases will emerge, destroying civilization and forcing humanity back to primitive times.

3. Shared Habitat

The earth is not your property alone-
It’s as much ours as yours.

This dismantles the human ego by reminding us that the Earth is a shared habitat for all living organisms. In the name of progress, humans have hoarded resources and destroyed ecosystems. The virus serves as a harsh equalizer, demanding respect for the equal rights of all creatures to inhabit the Earth.