She goes zoom: a poem for a digital age

In these difficult uncertain times it has been challenging to find joy easily. Being stuck inside because of the pandemic I have recently been reaching deep to come out of my shell. I have begun writing again and this has made me feel more like myself and allowed me to explore outside, while indoors.

This first piece I wrote imagines someone falling in love via Zoom in this very digital moment.

She goes zoom: a poem for a digital age

She goes zoom in the crowded room before he sips his morning coffee 
He focuses amongst the noisy voices and interruptions
Muted weathered signals, you go first, no you, words collide without caution
Throwing caution winded, his mind goes blank 
The words jumble diagonally as he tries to speak
He delights in her upbeat tempo, so early attempting to free associate
A time outside where he associates freely and risks with words trying to connect with her
Like two wires that sparkle, a smile that quiets the cacophony of sound and reason
He pauses. He’s paused. Return to video.  
There is no reason amongst all the talking about processing efficiently
But life is swirling in this time of uncertainty and progress is in the little details
Well certainly she cannot sense his brave attempts to make her laugh, disguised as banter
Or has she seen him reflect her glimmer
The girl next door whose glow is reminiscent of summer 
Kindling campfires of s'mores on branches of far off dreams, attained under moonlit skies
Fireflies illuminating hot summer nights
That feeling of anything can happen to those who show up
Who step up to the batter’s plate of their discomfort
And swing for the fences
Uh oh, lost connection
Until he zooms again through the flickering screen with chopped up audio
Reconnected
They leave the meeting