This poem is a punch in the gut, makes my belly ache. Especially because, with most people, even back in the room in physical form, something has changed. The words said and the actions taken during the in between have altered our relationships. I can tell by the hugs, which are a rarity in and of themselves, among other signs.
wull thanks back Mary an' thanks fer the kind words! yup, all this zoom "thee-ate-her" is a farce (an' not the good kind neither) the energy of a live audience, candy wrappers n' one-handed clappin' n' missed cues an' ol' man farts an' all--I'll take it any day--wooly, silky, nubby--it's a world of textures ya cain't git virtue-ly! (I'm done with virtue-al, that's fer sure :-)
So many powerful words and phrases, Mary: "for the wildfire magic of ideas and the unstoppable power of human love that explodes in a real room,..." Beautiful! Perhaps the proliferation of "virtual" meetings have enkindled in many people a reverence for the in-person moments. I think so, and your poem verifies this. Thank you for this insight shared so poetically and profoundly.
...a screen is a filter an' 'cept fer cawfee (which IS the beans!) most've us do better without some dang filter in between us--filterin' words, feelin's, touch, smell and creatin' arty-fish-all distance--We need the whole 9 yards you so "be-you-ta-fully" express here. Life (real) is the good turtle soup not merely the mock and it all comes down to the texture of love! (Poetry is, of course, very much in the real!)
Hey, Mary, thanks for this. Now I understand why I get so irritable when I have a zoom meeting on my schedule. I feel like I don't even want to go to it. I think, "to what end?" Same old conversation over and over every time. In a group like that, we don't get a chance to speak honestly from the heart. We hesitate because this one up there at the top of my screen wouldn't appreciate hearing that. We don't really get to talk about the truth of what's happened or still happening, that old proverbial "elephant in the room". No opportunity for a little side conversation with one of the attendees (No, "CHAT" on the sidebar doesn't come anywhere near to what I'm wanting). Most importantly, I long to hug some people, long and hard. I don't think I can do that with my eyes, try as I may.
The images you create with your words are so beautiful and touching.
One line in your poem that stood out to me was, (in the room) "...where leave-taking is gradual." You are so right to call attention to that aspect. Zoom ends so abruptly, within a fraction of a second, poof! everyone is gone, no chance to wave goodbye as you're driving away, or say a few parting words to so-and-so. It just sucks. And I don't want to settle for "better-than-nothing". That sounds too much like compliance, or capitulation.
Aside from reminding us of what we miss from our "previous lives", you have also made us more aware of what we won't ever want to forget about what was done to us. xox
shucks Mary, may it all come ta' pass!... heck, if the moo cows don't mind a little comp'ny, I'm near-ready to trod them barn boards fer matinee shows at least (cows appear to head ta bed early so I wouldn't wanna inconvenience 'em much) --I don't wonder that some creative if pungent stages WILL pop up for us all 'fore too long--I sure hope so!
I have just returned from an in-person weekend with a club that I have been Zooming with for some time. Your words hit home to me. What great timing you have!
The sweetness of being in the same room. The smell of cinnamon buns at breakfast! The laughter! The light touch on the arm! The slight flinch when the fire in the fireplace crackled and sparked. Yes, yes, and yes! To truly met together.
This IS our only true reality, and thankfully, many of us are migrating back to that meeting room and recognizing it as sacred space.
Thank you, as ever, for penning us in the direction of what matters. 💚🫖☀️
Well said. I miss it too! Suspect we all do
Connecting with real people is a beautiful thing ..
To put my hand in another human hand, gently squeeze and look sometime in the eye.
That is a beautiful thing.
But for those, like me, who live far away...
Well I'm thankful for any way to connect...
Yes and yes and YES! Exactly.
That was beautiful, Mary.
No substitute for the real thing - as you so well captured. Loved it. ❤️🩹 Thank you.
This poem is a punch in the gut, makes my belly ache. Especially because, with most people, even back in the room in physical form, something has changed. The words said and the actions taken during the in between have altered our relationships. I can tell by the hugs, which are a rarity in and of themselves, among other signs.
wull thanks back Mary an' thanks fer the kind words! yup, all this zoom "thee-ate-her" is a farce (an' not the good kind neither) the energy of a live audience, candy wrappers n' one-handed clappin' n' missed cues an' ol' man farts an' all--I'll take it any day--wooly, silky, nubby--it's a world of textures ya cain't git virtue-ly! (I'm done with virtue-al, that's fer sure :-)
So many powerful words and phrases, Mary: "for the wildfire magic of ideas and the unstoppable power of human love that explodes in a real room,..." Beautiful! Perhaps the proliferation of "virtual" meetings have enkindled in many people a reverence for the in-person moments. I think so, and your poem verifies this. Thank you for this insight shared so poetically and profoundly.
...a screen is a filter an' 'cept fer cawfee (which IS the beans!) most've us do better without some dang filter in between us--filterin' words, feelin's, touch, smell and creatin' arty-fish-all distance--We need the whole 9 yards you so "be-you-ta-fully" express here. Life (real) is the good turtle soup not merely the mock and it all comes down to the texture of love! (Poetry is, of course, very much in the real!)
Hey, Mary, thanks for this. Now I understand why I get so irritable when I have a zoom meeting on my schedule. I feel like I don't even want to go to it. I think, "to what end?" Same old conversation over and over every time. In a group like that, we don't get a chance to speak honestly from the heart. We hesitate because this one up there at the top of my screen wouldn't appreciate hearing that. We don't really get to talk about the truth of what's happened or still happening, that old proverbial "elephant in the room". No opportunity for a little side conversation with one of the attendees (No, "CHAT" on the sidebar doesn't come anywhere near to what I'm wanting). Most importantly, I long to hug some people, long and hard. I don't think I can do that with my eyes, try as I may.
The images you create with your words are so beautiful and touching.
One line in your poem that stood out to me was, (in the room) "...where leave-taking is gradual." You are so right to call attention to that aspect. Zoom ends so abruptly, within a fraction of a second, poof! everyone is gone, no chance to wave goodbye as you're driving away, or say a few parting words to so-and-so. It just sucks. And I don't want to settle for "better-than-nothing". That sounds too much like compliance, or capitulation.
Aside from reminding us of what we miss from our "previous lives", you have also made us more aware of what we won't ever want to forget about what was done to us. xox
shucks Mary, may it all come ta' pass!... heck, if the moo cows don't mind a little comp'ny, I'm near-ready to trod them barn boards fer matinee shows at least (cows appear to head ta bed early so I wouldn't wanna inconvenience 'em much) --I don't wonder that some creative if pungent stages WILL pop up for us all 'fore too long--I sure hope so!
Gorgeous and beautiful. Thank you 💜
I have just returned from an in-person weekend with a club that I have been Zooming with for some time. Your words hit home to me. What great timing you have!
The sweetness of being in the same room. The smell of cinnamon buns at breakfast! The laughter! The light touch on the arm! The slight flinch when the fire in the fireplace crackled and sparked. Yes, yes, and yes! To truly met together.
"creative if pungent" 😂
Damn, woman, you know how to turn a phrase!