Hello, I’m back. Did I miss anything?
On August 8th I took my blog down while I submitted a collection of poems to publishers for a chapbook publication. I’m happy to report a lovely digital magazine picked it up. Well, not the whole collection as submitted. They selected 6 of the 23 poems in the book, (What is that…about 26% of the book?) –and no hard copies, just published online. Not exactly what I wanted but it turns out it was extremely helpful. I believe they helped me identify the strongest poems in the collection and exposed the fact that the collection is not complete.
The collection is a story arc of a blue-collar factory worker’s life before and after the lockdown. What does a body do during a pandemic? Working-class folks equate moving constantly with productivity. Stay home? Stay safe? Arrghhh! My character starts to slow down and become hyperaware of all kinds of stuff. They consider the cruelty of placing plants in pots, wonder what the air in other homes smells like, and face the agonizing reality of apartment living with a neighbor that uses a very loud blender. This character’s journey is not complete. I believe it is just beginning.
The working title was a bit complex. I found the word “Desultor.” Desultor is a circus performer that bounces and flips from one horse to the next. It was a nod to the Five Horses of the Apocalypse and us regular-folk trying to keep our feet steady, while wave after wave of crappy stuff happens. I’m not going to use that title, so if you want it, go for it. 🙂
September has arrived. Did you sense a change? A shift in the air is swarming over my city. Children going back to school, kind of, and this extra bit of anxiety begins to hover as we all compete on Comcast for fast internet. Thank goodness for 5G right? ‘Effers. Interesting it rolled out at the first of the year don’t you think? Although I love a good conspiracy, EVERYTHING feels like a false front to me these days. It’s even difficult to watch my man Colbert. The Trump jokes sting a bit. Somehow, it’s no longer funny that our leader is a rage-induced baffoon.
In my work life more people are physically coming into each other’s space trying to do various jobs that demand physical attention, such as getting a building open and compliant to Phase 2 and 3 of the State regulated guidelines. It is like an awkward ballet. Social weirdness and outburst of anger are witnessed. It will take a while for us to learn how to dance with each other again.
2020 Housing Bubble & Market Crash
I was keeping myself up to date on this anticipated housing bubble burst and market crash prediction, expected to hit within the next 3-9 months. Anyways, I stumbled across this wild video, that I need to share with someone, anyone.
Dr Sulabh Jain of Chariot Palmistry, http://www.chariotpalmistry.com , is an Indian-Australian gentleman who predicts political and stock market trends using the art of Indian Palm Reading. Wow. I did not know this was a thing. I will gently leave this video here and let you decide what to make of his predictions.
I’m glad to be back writing online again. Working through the Pandemic has been stressful. I’m showing serious signs of fatigue. A great book fell into my lap. I’m reading a book by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, a trauma social worker and educator, called “Trauma Stewardship”. If you are a caregiver in ANY compacity I highly recommend it.
Take care. Sending you hugs this day. -Shannon
Photo credit: https://www.vulture.com/2020/09/ruth-bader-ginsburg-puts-colbert-through-her-gym-routine.html
https://traumastewardship.com/laura-van-dernoot-lipsky/
shannon p. laws 