Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 14) — In the midst of sudden and drastic changes brought by the coronavirus pandemic, some people are finding creative outlets in literary works.
For Filipina writer Viva Andrada O’Flynn, poetry can be a platform to deal with the weight of the crisis, and at the same time underscore the importance of individual efforts to stay at home in the collective fight against the disease.
“There is just so much going on, there are things that I think we just can’t control,” O’Flynn, who is now based in the United Kingdom, told CNN Philippines’ The Final Word on Thursday.
“So, what can I control?” she continued. “What can I do to help? How can I use my gifts to reach out? I’m a writer so I just write to unleash my inner survivor.”
Her poem entitled “Who Knew” was recently selected out of over 3,000 entries as one of the winners in the Covid Times Poetry Competition.
The contest was organized by the international nonprofit organization World Humanitarian Drive, which aims to emphasize solidarity and inspire people amid the global crisis.
In the literary piece which kicked off with the lines “Who knew we could be heroes staying at home all day,” O’Flynn painted lockdown scenarios while highlighting the value of staying indoors to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
“I write down what I’m going through, [my] personal experience,” she shared. “And then I think I’m not the only one going through this, so I write ‘we’ instead of ‘me,’ and then I also use my words to inspire myself and hopefully others as well.”
Countries across the world continue to grapple with the viral disease which so far has infected over 4.3 million people globally and killed nearly 300,000. As some nations, including the Philippines, start to ease lockdown restrictions, health officials continue to remind the public to practice preventive measures and adhere to health protocols to help break the chain of infection.
Sharing a poem I wrote ❤️ Stay home, healthy, and safe everyone❤️ #GlobalCitizen #Togetherathome #world #poetry #covid19 #stayathome #inspirational pic.twitter.com/dv2IdYVvqn
— Viva Andrada O'Flynn❤️ (@vivaciousviva) April 19, 2020
