Yes, this is just how things are.
Work today to pay this bill...
Touch to send, you seem so far.
Tap to text my words bizarre;
You’re within arm’s length - but still.
Yes, this is just how things are.
I’d write “say look up, that Star!”
“Can’t, my vision blurred, this pill.”
Touch to send, you seem so far.
The apartment paid, this car
Is new, the payment due still.
Yes, this is just how things are.
Avoid my best: a test or spar,
“I think I’m gonna be ill.”
Touch to send, you seem so far.
We’re separate we’re afar
All according to our will.
Yes, this is just how things are,
Touch to send, you seem so far.
- Gary Edward Geraci
-
Author:
Gary Edward Geraci (
Offline) - Published: September 2nd, 2019 16:19
- Comment from author about the poem: Having the Villanelle “Pale Blue Dot” come into rotation over the past several days inspired me to write another poem using this wonderful form. Father John here at St. Luke in Temple, TX recently reflected back on his days living in the college town of Waco, TX. He spoke of a day when he passed a crowded bus stop of college students and how he noticed that nearly the entire group of them were looking down at their phones; they’d look up for a moment and then they’d return their gaze downward to their phone - a vicious cycle - there were few if any conversations going on among this group; that he could see. The “pill” in the poem is any addictive, rut-like, all consuming diversion that keeps us “ill,” that keeps us blurred in vision; that keeps us from seeing the “Star”; from contemplating our origin and our Creator. A diversion because it so consumes us that it keeps us from asking the real, existential questions: why are we even here at all in the first place? is there more to life than doing the same thing on this phone day after day? working and paying the bills day after day? becoming more and more autonomous? actually desiring autonomy over real one on one interaction with other people? Based on what Father John reported in his Homily we seem to be “willing” it after all - a close culture of people who desire not to interact in a real, face-to-face way anymore, a close culture of people that seems to desire a safe separation from one another. Can we change course or will this human technological progress truly take over and lead us where it wants? Says G.K. Chesterton in 1906: “None of the modern machines, none of the the modern paraphernalia...have any power except over the people who choose to use them.” I may still choose to use them, these man-made tools, for all of the good potential contained within them, but - I will most certainly choose to limit my use as well - I think I need to keep my vision, my looking up and looking down, focused on the coming of our Lord.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 11
Offline)
Comments2
A fine write Gary.
This is brilliant and very very true today, unfortunately. Sometimes we lose ourselves in the every day and the bigger picture is lost. I enjoyed reading this.
CLARA X
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.