i slip, slide, settle into my chair
waiting for work to overtake me
take hold
captivate my attention
fill in the cracks of creativity
my once scalding coffee,
cools to the temperature
that makes it intolerable
somewhere between room temperature and cold
my desire for it wains,
though my foggy brain craves its drug
i attempt to focus
i really want to write
no, i need to write
let the words flow and encompass me
but work battles to retain its stronghold
fighting for the fruitful center of my mind
work tends to rot that part
though i enjoy what I do
the monotony of the day-to-day
suppresses my joy at times
if i’m not creating,
i at least want to be doing
spending time with other people
not strapped to my computer
responding to emails
scheduling meetings
or worse yet, stuck in a zoom
where the humanity of people goes to die
zoom was important when we needed it
it kept us connected when the world
forced us apart
it has become a crutch
the easy solution for not coming together
removing the deeper connections
we don’t take the time to know each other
or face the bigger problems
i shut my computer
stand up
leave my office
and make my way
to be with you
here
now
by heather tran
(c) 10-10-25