Walking Away from 2020
Can we walk away
from this apocalypse?
And if we might,
where to?
In the time of COVID,
walking away
consists of
staying at home.
Our poor minds
in our lonely heads
now walk away
into strange places.
We are walking away
from the selves
we used to be —
collectively.
We do not know
our destination:
the road, or all roads,
uncharted.
In the great cities
streets are empty
without movement
as if useless.
Although this was written to my own prompt for Weekly Scribblings #40 at Poets and Storytellers United, I had trouble getting into it until I gave myself a structure. When the first couple of verses were all I had, it was fairly easy to turn them into 17-syllable American sentences, but arranged in four lines each, and keep that form for the rest of the poem. (Yes I know the first verse is technically two sentences. Hey, even Allen Ginsberg, who invented the American Sentence, did that occasionally.)
Is it unusual to have these same thoughts while harboring the spirit of resistance to where we are? Soon, freedom returns.
ReplyDeleteAs Kim suggests in her comment, I think it is far from unusual.
DeleteRosemary, I like the ideaa of walking away by staying home. Hiding. But for me I'm buying time until a decent vaccine is compounded.
ReplyDeleteI like the American Sentence also, your stacking six wirked fine.
I would "fix" it using punctuation, probably a comma, and make it a complex (or a more correct name) question.
..
I tried the first verse with a comma in the middle, but didn't like it so much that way.
DeleteI love how you used this form - it really served the prompt well (and the state of times at the moment - fragmented and creeping)
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm glad you found that it worked. One never quite knows oneself; this is why we need feedback.
DeleteI think those questions are on everyone’s minds, Rosemary, and who knows what will happen? This poem hits right home. And I know what you mean about giving yourself a structure. Lately, I seem to be writing in couplets!
ReplyDeleteHa, I did contemplate writing this one in couplets. Much as I love free verse, form can sometimes be helpful.
DeleteI appreciate the artistry of using the American Sentence format this way and the sentiment behind each. *sigh* We aren't out of the woods yet, and so much can happen in the next few months.
ReplyDeleteYes, and we really don't know exactly how it will go.
DeleteAs I read this, I was thinking "haiku", so was pleased to note your American Sentence note following the work. Allen would approve.
ReplyDeleteYour 3rd stanza hits home most strongly for me; I see folks landing at the oddest destinations, often accidentally. weird times indeed.
Well done, R.
I'm very glad to know they suggested haiku to you. They're not, of course, but it must mean that what they are is working well.
DeleteI like the short verse...has more impact. Times are hard but recluses and hermits live inside their heads so it is not too drastically different for creative nutters)
ReplyDeleteYes, to be truthful my life is very little changed!
Delete"...walking away
ReplyDeleteconsists of
staying at home."
I love that.
Thank you!
Delete"In the time of COVID,
ReplyDeletewalking away
consists of
staying at home."
Bravo👏 luv this verse
Happy Wednesday
Much💖love
Thanks, Gillena.
DeleteOh, you speak my thoughts, Rosemary --- and you do it in 17 syllable sentences! Life now is a bit like riding the roller coaster....never sure where is the next curve or if you'll still be on board when it stops! My poems always seem to come to me in the exact rhyming format I try to vary and fail.
ReplyDeleteWhy fix what ain't broke? I love your rhyming, rhythmical way with poetry.
DeleteYes those short lines or verse are really telling. What this year has taught us is that nothing is certain in life but we must adjust our actions to stay alive when crisis occurs.
ReplyDeleteIn the name of all that's holy .... where do we go, is there an escape, how do we survive it or will we? This is a sobering bit of poetry, Ms. Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteI think it's true, though, to say 'This too shall pass'.
DeleteStaying put in resistance.... Love that. We are all walking a similar path, but each has their own footprint. The past couple of weeks has been extremely hard here. We have both our adult daughters with us, and I'll just leave it there.
ReplyDeleteSorry you've had extra stress lately, Susie. And I love what you say here about all walking a similar path, each with their own footprint.
DeleteWould that I could walk away but still not go anywhere. I've taken to walking away from technology more and more lately.
ReplyDeleteI hope you make an exception for Poets and Storytellers United, and keep walking towards us to share your writings!
DeleteAs often as I can. Thank you! :)
DeleteWe were just discussing the difficulties of walking away from people lives lives with, in the times of COVID. I find myself thanking the universe every day for the fact our family enjoys being together. And I feel terrible for those who can't walk away, especially when their living situations are dire.
ReplyDeleteI really like your chosen structures--extra bits and all. :-)
Statistics here tell us that domestic violence has increased during this pandemic. Terrible knowledge!
Delete"walking away by staying home" says everything about the total
ReplyDeleteconfusion of our time.
I think everyone is experiencing it as extremely weird.
Delete