Across The Grid
©2020 Louise Gallagher
Across the grid
of this digital universe
we momentarily inhabit,
faces smile and laugh
brows furrow and foreheads crinkle.
Sarah, sitting alone
in her box in London
yawns and stretches as dusk settles in.
She raises her glass
to the screen in front of her
and takes a sip of wine.
It's not really drinking alone, she hopes,
when there's a virtual world of people
right in front of her.
In LA, morning sunshine
streams through the window
behind Jarred’s head.
He wipes the sleep
from his eyes
and tries to shake off
the dream he had last night
as he takes another sip of coffee.
While in Julia’s box down-under
Tomorrow has already arrived.
She can’t stay long.
She's got lots to do today.
Amidst the ebb and flow
of conversation tethered
to an invisible web of binary code
spinning around the globe,
a fluffy black cat’s tail
flits across the bottom
of one, one-inch square,
a brown and white dog
patters through another
paying no heed
to the virtual world
of many lives
full of thoughts passing through
unseen
within each box
of constant dimensions
holding everyone in place.
Ripe with straight-laced consonants
and plump vowels rounding out
the stream of conversation
time keeps flowing
past words and images
cascading and falling
into the constant flow
of lives
gathered here
in virtual reality.
Connected
yet so far apart.
There is no time in the universe
for distance
to keep us apart
in a locked down world.
On Wednesday evenings, I gather with a group of five other women on Zoom for an hour and a half of writing and sharing.
Facilitated by Ali Grimshaw of the Flashlight Batteries blog, she reads aloud a poem by another author and invites us to write whatever those words inspire.
The poem above was inspired by a poem called Zoom Morning Weather, by Josh Jacobs.
This captures our current reality and the importance of connection in such a genuine way. 🤍
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thank you! I’m loving the writing group as it is stretching me in unexpected ways!
And yes — genuine connection is so vital!
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The words are arranged artfully
and bring a personal event to life.
Telling a story.
Painting a picture of now,
colourful,
and laid out on a crisp white table.
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Your response
like everything you do
is an artful reflection
of your experience
and fills my heart
with gratitude.
Wouldn’t it be fun
to one day sit
at a crisp white table
together?! ❤
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Louise,
Thank you for sharing this poem. I like how you expanded it with the details of specific people in different time zones. This poem mirrors beautifully the experiences many are having during this time of separation.
I am grateful for all the people, including you, that I have met while leading writing circles. We have an opportunity to come together and really listen to each other. This safe space, to be heard, is one I am passionate about providing.
Your loving spirit comes through in all that you write.
Thank you for sharing your writing journey with me.
Ali
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YOu provide it with such beautiful grace Ali. You create a safe courageous space for all who come to shine bright.
Thank you. ❤
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Thank you so much.❤️
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You’ve eloquently captured the essence of these glorious gatherings at the Digital poetry writing groups, which are superbly coordinated by the wonderful Ali Grimshaw…
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Thank you Ivor — one of the things I’m so appreciative of is meeting fellow explorers of the poetic word like you!.
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Yes, I enjoy meeting other poets too… 💙🌏
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So nice inceed
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Thank you Joanne! ❤
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Fantastic, we can all relate!
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Hi Louise and Ali, I just came across this post and was delighted to see you’d read my poem, Zoom Morning Weather (https://www.issues.righthandpointing.net/141). Thanks so much for reading and sharing! Josh jacobs
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Oh wow! I’m so grateful you stopped by and shared in what you inspired. Thanks Josh — I’ve linked in the web addrss to go with your name in my post. And thanks again. It was such a lovely session with your words — and so apropros to the times!
I’ve also tagged Ali to ensure she see’s your comment too!
https://flashlightbatteries.blog/
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