Singing in the Dark: A Global Anthology of Poetry under Lockdown

Singing in the Dark: A Global Anthology of Poetry under Lockdown, edited by Indian poet K. Satchidanandan and academic Nisha Chawla, features lockdown poetry from over 100 poets in 20 languages (Satchidanandan). To avoid hierarchy, the anthology is structured alphabetically. Published in 2020, it captures the immediate effects of COVID-19 through diverse poetic styles and themes. The hastiness of the contributing poets’ work is central, reflecting the impact of the pandemic’s early moments. Satchidanandan and Chawla explore connections with the natural world during a time of limited human interaction and the therapeutic benefits of poetry in lockdown. They argue that the anthology offers an invaluable poetic record of dramatically altered times.