Tuesday, May 19, 2020

language of pandemics



i paint

our words to be a virus
our words to be a vaccine

our words to be host cell 
our words to be N95 mask

whether you are asymptomatic
or symptomatic, our doorways are alike

from graffitied city streets
to funeral parlors with 10 chairs

let's socially distance
via zoom meeting with sun-

flowers stuck in our hair-
sending crownlit poems from our windpipes-





Posted for dVerse Poets Pub -About Portals, hosted by Anmol (HA).
Thanks for the visits and comments.




16 comments:

  1. I have been in such distancing for more than 10 weeks now... had to get myself a better webcam simply to show myself to friends and colleagues. Zoom is not allowed for us though.

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  2. I absolutely love the upbeat end to the reality painted here -
    "sun-

    flowers stuck in our hair-
    sending crownlit poems from our windpipes"

    something so poignant about
    "funeral parlors with 10 chairs"

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  3. That is such an intelligent use of this language that has become commonplace today. I love that chant of "our words" to denote the many things they mean, as well as the ending with "crownlit" poems sent from the windpipes. A lot of this experience is encompassed in your words.

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  4. I like the thought that we have similar doorways during this pandemic.

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  5. I read an article in a newspaper today about the language of pandemics, how the situation is changing the English language, specifically here in the UK. I wonder if it’s the same in other countries.
    Like Björn, I am in my tenth week and look forward to video chats with my daughter and grandson – I feel bereft when we miss each other because of Internet failure or some other reason. I agree with Laura about the upbeat end. The lines that struck me are:
    ‘whether you are asymptomatic
    or symptomatic, our doorways are alike

    from graffitied city streets
    to funeral parlors with 10 chairs’.

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  6. When social distancing has ended (if it ever does!) we will have a few memorial services to attend for those who've passed and whose family could not have a funeral. So sad.

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  7. I love the ending here Grace- may we all rise above this mess with smiles and sunflowers in our hair.

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  8. I love the sunflowers in one's hair.......a defiant hopefulness in the face of so much uncertainty.

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  9. Yes, poetry really is the best medicine! Love your poem!

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  10. Wish I had sunflowers for next Zoom meeting...maybe dandelions will work?!

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  11. flowers stuck in our hair-
    sending crownlit poems from our windpipes-

    Given whatever parameters to confine its progress it is there only to be reminded it is there with our writings. Yes Grace,it has screwed up our life all through! But at least we can do it in style!

    Hank

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  12. Spreading good things to dissipate the bad. I like that.

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  13. The 10 chairs got me - that sudden detail, absolutely real. I like the idea of our words spreading like viruses, and your ending, a challenge of joy.

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  14. The poem for our times, so well crafted and complete, and those beckoning doors! Love this Grace, may it all become a disturbed and also strangley lovely memory.

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  15. The social distance continues as zoom helps on out.

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  16. Once that door is opened, we do adapt, don't we?

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