Virtual Velocity

Dear Readers,

Thank you for the heartfelt response to the previous newsletter. We are in a much better space and hope good sense can prevail. In all this what worries me most is the collective euphoria that surrounds a catastrophe. While I try to figure out the why of it all, I’d like to confess that I am overwhelmed by the speed at which the world is changing. From where I am at this stage in life, it is difficult to keep up with this virtual velocity. As a teacher, I learnt the importance of evolving, keeping up with change. One of our co-ordinators always quoted, ‘You either change or perish’.

Now, that those teaching years are past me, I struggle between the choice of staying relevant and/or being in own my blissful state of inertia. If you are someone like me, I’d love to know how you cope. Meanwhile, here’s a little poem that came out of it.

VIRTUAL VELOCITY

When I received hand-written letters

and typed away on my father’s typewriter,

poetry—waiting to be discovered.

When a poem languished on byways

before my grandfather

could set eyes on it.

When a week later, I received his love

doubled along the way from the plains of Satluj

puffing a warm silt-laden breeze

into my mountain springs.

When my lover’s petulance melted

in the fortnight between us—

our exchanges cooling

under every new moon.

After I learnt to swipe right

the river rushed down the valley

a gust blew all leaves away

the moon waxed and waned

at breathless pace, love galloped

forgetting the springs.


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7 Replies to “Virtual Velocity”

  1. I’m old enough to ask, “What is the rush?” In our speedy modes, we miss so much. Gulping rather than savoring. Beautiful words again, Sonia.

    I’m also old enough to ask myself, “Do I want to be relevant?” I’m still asking that question, but I’m taking my time to answer it. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  2. How wonderfully you’ve crafted the dichotomy of life before and after technology invaded our day-to-day. Everything has depleted, even our attention span, and we miss the beauty provided to us for free by mother nature.

    Like

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