Saturday, March 14, 2020

Commentary on Social Distancing_SOLSC 14

A  cool breeze filters through the open window with a dull, grayish sky opening day. There are no birds singing their tunes. I wonder why. Is life here in my suburb close to Manhattan finding its way to cope with the pandemic? Is nature responding to the crisis? Do the birds understand the concept behind social distancing? I imagine this gray day moving toward Manhattan as I write. 


May this poem help us understand the gravity of the pandemic's reach and bring us closer together in thought as a global community during this trying time.

Each year since March 2015, I have engaged in Two Writing Teacher's Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. Slicing allows me to ponder life, literacy, and learning, capturing small moments poetically through writing, photography, and digital art. Welcome to Day 14 of 31 days of writing with Two Writing Teachers

19 comments:

  1. Lots of unknowns right now and you captured that so well in your poem. I think we are all feeling a sense of uncertainness right now. This is new, uncharted territory for all. The sun will again shine through those gray clouds and the world will again feel the warmth of normalness, perhaps it will take just a bit longer.

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    1. Here's to that time when the world celebrates the rise of normalcy again.

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  2. We are blessed with connections in this writing community. I hope neighbors and friends stay connected during this time.

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    1. Yes, we have such a connected bond at Two Writing Teachers. At least we have one place where we can connect on a more personal level.

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  3. It's as though Nature recognizes this serious time in the human world. I, too, hope this brings us closer, even as we need to practice social distancing.

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    1. More and more people are become aware that we cannot be jammed into one another on subway trains or in crowds but we still can communicate.

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  4. There is a lot of sad beauty in your poem - I am particularly moved by the "I" - "invading the light nature shares". Strange times, indeed. Thank you for this poetry!

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    1. Thanks, Maureen for commenting on my poem. There seems to be a preponderance of dark days lately.

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  5. I think there might be a part of me that wishes I were a bird right now. Social distancing and the way you articulate it through this poem create a dark strangeness within this whole situation.

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    1. The strangeness we all feel is from now being comfortable with the new found crisis. We are uneven, our balance is off, we can't do what we used to do. Yesterday's blog about the virus was upbeat but today there were no birds and the sky was gray. There was silence outside and inside there was turmoil. The contrasts were real and evident. Thanks for noting the dark strangeness, Betsy.

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  6. All of it is so strange and unexpected. Knowing form history, people are resilient and we will get through this. I am thankful for technology because even during the social distancing we can have some human connection, and share beauty of words and art.

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    1. Terje, it is so enlightening to me to speak with you virtually about the same topic in two different lands. The world seems to be not as large as we think it is because of technology.

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  7. Yes it's so true that sometimes nature seems to be mirroring the seriousness and unknown factors of the situation! Like your acrostic poem, it conveys the strange new mood.

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    1. ...and the strange new mood and dark days continue. It is up to us to continue communicating and being relentless in the pursuit of problem solving.

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  8. There is so much uncertainty going on right now and uncertainty leads to fear. Your poem illustrates the anxiousness we are all feeling.

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  9. I'm fascinated by your questioning phrase, "Negate connectedness?" We'll see. I know I appreciate the phone calls and written exchanges from the past 48 hours.

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  10. Social distancing - uncertainty - fear it's all around us. Your poem is a powerful reminder of the change in our world right now.

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  11. Do the birds understand
    the concept behind
    social distancing?

    Neither flutter
    nor wing, the
    birds still sing
    of coming Spring

    While we fret
    our days away
    on the heels of
    Winter

    I'm noticing
    the wire, the
    gathering point
    of convergence

    feathers touching
    to remember
    the rains

    before the presence
    of sound -- it's me,
    after all -- alerts
    the flock

    gone, distancing,
    the social norm
    of the scattering

    -- a poem response -- Kevin

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    1. Beautiful words, Kevin. Poetry begets poetry! Thank you.

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