Saturday, December 26, 2020

2020, the Year of Apart

Happiness for all was lean in the Year of Apart, of disease, of naked dislike between souls whose paths had never even crossed. Safety and health (and unmasked smiles) were mythological creatures everyone chased into forests that whispered of dead trees and sadder things. Thoughts of you guided me through the toughest fields… Once, when a guy called me a “liberal bitch”, because I would not share the elevator, I did not waste spit telling him what I thought of his covidiocy. I just woofed, growled, and grinned.

in darkness,
memories of you
become stars


for The Sunday Muse #140 and Whirligig 298.

35 comments:

  1. I love love love your haibun Magaly! I can so relate to this and the ending is gorgeous! So delighted to see you at the Muse this week my friend! Wishing you a 2021 full of health and happiness!

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  2. Beautiful and humorous! My daughter lives where the elevator rules are one at a time. It's true, the "naked dislike," and I am embarrassed to admit I have fallen into that. I don't like who I've become.

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    1. I think this damn pandemic has make us behave in many ways we rather didn't. Maybe 2021 will a year of self-discovery... and change (for the better). Fingers crossed, right?

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  3. Feeling extremely violent impulses towards the *liberal-bitch-guy*. Grrrrr! What a year this has been! Wishing you good things in 2021, my Lady M! 🖤

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    1. You aren't alone. When I'm faced with that sort of people, I thank my grandmother (and military training) for the gift of discipline. Jail would look terrible on me.

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  4. That was the perfect comeback, Magaly!

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    1. Thank you, Debra. You know, it might sound silly, but every time I get to deliver a comeback fast enough (and not hours or days after the fact), I feel that the universe grows a bit happier. All right, so it might be me who grows a bit happier.

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  5. Powerful piece Magaly! 2020 certainly pulled back the covers on some true ugliness, but also on some magnificence. Here’s a prayer that 2021 reveals some much needed light!

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    1. Let the light (and the death of ignorance) come!

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  6. Sadly so many of us think that fighting Covid is best done by upsetting of infecting others. Could be nature's way to eliminate stupid humanity!

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    1. The way some people behave make no sense at all. And the thought of this being Nature's culling is really scary.

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  7. You’ve summed up the ‘Year of Apart’ honestly and succinctly, Magaly. Thankfully, I haven’t experienced ‘naked dislike’ personally, although I know people who have. A good example is my sister-in-law, a community nurse, a good person who helps others, who was spat at in the street because she was wearing her uniform. I haven’t used an elevator in almost a year, as I have been shielded quite strictly, and I don’t know when I’ll use one again - we are back in indefinite lockdown since yesterday. I would love to have the guts and opportunity to woof and growl, but still have memories and stars to look at.

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    1. That is one of the things I understand least. Here someone threw acid on a healthcare provider who was wearing a mask. In what head does spitting on people and drenching them with acid seems like a solution to anything!? I hope this year is one when woofing and growling is not needed too much. But if we need it, may our voices be strong!

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  8. Thoughts of you have always been stars to me XXX

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    1. You sweet talker, you! I was just thinking about you (and watching certain wild child's dancing video). We need CWS face to face--well, in video--soon!

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  9. Love the poem! That a mask is so hard to comprehend or wear...it boggles the mind.

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  10. Oh, I love your response to the guy who wanted to invade your safe space with his unmasked face! Happiest of new years to you, Magaly!

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    1. Thank you, MMT. I hope your 2021 is fantastic.

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  11. A most perfect way to end 2020. And a reminder for all of us. how far we have come ... how much is left to do. Cheers and Happy Healthy New Year to you!

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    1. Maybe this year we'll get far... the other way, the we-are-a-bit-less-mad way. 🤞🏽

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  12. You aren’t alone we’d all jump out of that elevator

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    1. I've jumped out of the elevator more than once. And you know what? That, too, pisses them off!

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  13. I listen to you howl at the stars (and the covidiots) and I howl with laughter in reply. You have your own spark that shows me that darkness is never all consuming.

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    1. In very specific cases, darkness can be the quickest (and most humorous) path to the light.

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  14. Gorgeous haibun with great use of language (the covidiots). Love this, Magaly!

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  15. Lovely poetic writeup enjoyed every word. Truly this year has been heavy tragic and one of loss.We lost our elder son in law due to Covid19 in November.He was in the prime of his life but as the Lord wills.
    Hopefully the coming times will be peaceful good and safe.Happy New Year

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    1. I am so sorry for your loss. More so because this horribleness could've been prevented. I hope this year is not as lethal on the world, on families...

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    1. Thank you, Tanza. And happy, healthy New Year to you!

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