Alarm starts to ring

At 8 in the morning

Time to get ready

Online classes are calling

Smell of the breeze

Not the same as it used to be

Eyes are unpleased

While we open our screens

School starts off different,

Quite unusual and uncomfortable

Sleeping schedule has been inconsistent

24/7 on our study table

Teachers preparing zoom links

Students in the waiting room

It may be a tiring routine

But I know this: we will get through

The struggle during these hard times

Have been sorely painful

Sometimes we lose faith

I know we are all unstable

As I look out my window

I reminisce about nostalgic memories

Moments that we should’ve been experiencing

If there was no pandemic jeopardy

I remember the little things

I should have never took for granted

The little moments

I should have just cherished

Memories as simple as the smell of markers

Behind every teacher’s drawer

The lights that sometimes flicker

When there are reporters

New seating arrangements

New classmates to chit-chat

New quarterly printed modules

Stacked on the doormat

I’ve been missing going down to the canteen

Only to just buy snacks

In between rooms that we walked to

For our upcoming class

We would probably hangout

After school on a Friday

Maybe relax at the Sunken Garden

Or at Timezone just to play

Such memories lasted in pictures we took

At events like UP Fair and BOTB

The scent of nachos wafting in the air

Bringing me back all the memories

UAAP will finally be watched

Once this lockdown stops

Once everyone is safe

When the cases start to drop

Though this situation might take long—

It feels like we’re walking down a tightrope—

But people are getting strong

Chin up, there is still hope

People are starting to be selfless,

And are standing up for themselves

By movements that help the mass,

Food pantries and shelters

There are still days to look forward to

Priceless smiles we can see again

Moments that we can redo

Don’t worry this will all come to an end

It may not seem to be going well today

But everyone’s here to help and stay

Look out your window, just hold on and hopefully

Everything will be okay

Years

Friendship built for years

Memories we make every day

The past that we’ll see

Will be today

Moments we hold dear

Hopefully won't go away

Months

Months of review

All for just one moment

More colleges to pursue

No time for amusement

Weeks

Weeks came down hard

Withdrawal from school

Everything got barred

Left feeling unsure

Days suddenly felt timed
24 hours left behind
School felt undefined
There is too little time


Hours of so much work assigned
Staring among our screens
Overloaded information in my mind
Functioning as if we’re machines



Give me a minute!
A minute to think
A minute to breathe
A minute to let it sink


If there was only one second
For a second chance
A chance to bring back time
A moment that will last