Then, COVID blocked my olfaction

Me and my friend,

that night we dined together

she squeezed lemon on my fish,

asked me, if I got d' flavor

I was not sure

something wrong in my smelling ability

any disease, any abnormality?

I tried to recollect,

attempted to connect,

threads of d' past events

As a pleasant surprise,

last week one evening it rained

an unseasonal shower,

I couldn't understand

had an intense desire to inhale

but not able to cherish,

d' soaked earth's sweet smell

A sort of odor blindness noted

luscious dishes tasted, less appetizing

unable to detect the gas leaks,

also if d' food's burnt while cooking

No running nose, no blockade,

no Parkinson's, no Alzheimer

my baby also flatly refutes,

to come to d' lap of her mother

it's strange, d' onset of anosmia

sets up a feeling of depression

the maleness in spouse's sweat,

no more arouses the passion

Got an appointment for checkup,

asked d' famed ENT consultant

"No routine use of nasal spray,

or any other de-congestant?

Able to perceive the smell of

chocolate, vanilla, and peppermint?

if can't make out d' items from odor,

need a cranial nerve assessment"

If open d' lids of d' spice bottles,

can't identify  d' distinct flavor

now upset about less appetite,

is it flu, have to wait till it's over?

At lunch hour my mate,

pushed her lunch box under my nose,

"tell me, if it's stale or fresh?"

couldn't make out but I didn't disclose

"Stinking dear, unfit  to eat", she told

I nodded, unable to guess,

from d' smell, food's freshness

"If a nose detects a trillion scents,

why my smell steadily eclipsing

since morning  I feel  little feverish,

eyes tearing,

d' sinuses started dripping"

Do you remember,

closeness to any infected person,

or a foreign tour of any family member?

a serological test seems mandatory,

to know if a COVID-19, d' offender?"

Instantly d' garrulous mouth got shut,

shocked, in  d' verge of a collapse

never serious for social distancing,

no frequent hand washings, no mask

"I wish to bring to your knowledge,

last Sunday, it all happened

for groceries, I went to d' market,

waited in a long queue for my turn

Pointing towards a nearby trash can,

I spotted a person holding his nose

he blew it hard with maximum effort,

I couldn't run away, I was too close

Promptly unzipped my handbag,

pulled out d' hanky, I was so scared

must have sprayed droplets on me,

then my mouth, nose all were bare

Tricky situation, can't decide further,

you're d' Physician, better u suggest

should I try some medicines and wait

or promptly proceed for a corona test"

I'll test the entire family for corona,

baby doesn't come to u, you're d' mother

don't worry, no pain, only a throat swab,

all of u walk down for it, come together

While blowing off a candle

can't make out d' smell of wick and wax

nor the flavor of aromatic spices

the scent of sandalwood paste

miss d' smell of coffee, savor of garlic bread

and the prawn biryani flavor

I felt jealous to look at,

d' mustache of my shaggy dog twitched

as d' aroma lifts his nose in pleasure

I erred on d' smell of clean garments

laundry pile ballooned up overnight

found no flavor in yummy foods,

upset about my shrunk appetite

sprayed obsessive amount freshener

my smell ability obscured,

intimated to our family doctor

he checked my nose throat,

but he was not sure

Call your hubby, and ask him,

to come soon with your daughter

I'll contact d' corona testing Lab

register for testing of all d' family member

So sir,

you are confident of a corona infection,

and presume COVID blocked my olfaction