The Carpe Diem Chronicles: Page One

(photo taken by the author, Summer 2020)

   The View From Here

   On the silence necessary to listen, or at least intently enough to observe in a manner of specifics, regardless of the differing populace of any major city, required well-thought timing. Being an obvious member, rather than a visitor to, the GTA in which I grew up, I felt I had something greater to offer my birthplace than merely lines of poetry, or short fiction, and set out to find that purpose. It led me to seek avenues in writing I had thus far never considered, and the varying mediums with which to push my words, and my work, were diverse to a point of epiphany. In a world in crisis that effects every level of our lives, there had to be more I could do, or write, that would further both a mindset that worked well for me, and a form in which to place those words. It may seem a stretch to place a supposed brighter-side to life in such casual terms, though perhaps in the same respect, not so difficult at all, and while cups are measured half this-way-or-that, I felt the differing mental images cheapened the point of the exercise, wherein I felt the purpose was to smile, rather than think of a reason 'why' to smile. Songs and pop-culture and our elders, parents, teachers, and maybe even our peers, offer both the grandest advice, and the more constructive of criticisms, toward a path they wish 'us' to follow or to view from their perspective. And, that is it, entire; perspective means everything. Empathy is a beautiful skill, and to feel through another's shoes, one must understand that the world stretches beyond the 'self' and it is in the united heart of mankind (for lack of better phrasing) where that happiness is pure as spring water. 

   Seems we have found an uneasy middle ground between the truth we see and feel, to that which has been lain before us. The antithesis of the truth is the omission of facts, rather than in the blatancy of false words provided for the sake of communication. You need only, or rather we need only, cover our faces in the name of cleanliness and safety to walk about this city that has been our home. The eyes we see above these masks are lost and lonely, scared of the same things as you and me, and while we stay strong and proud and free, there is something remiss in how we have come to cope. I believe that the lasting test of our society is in our recovery, as one, in a togetherness that needs not a complete stand-in of our loved ones, but in a consistency of love, in which yes, they are always there. Perhaps the united choice to abide by the Stay-at-Home Order, in a sense that we are doing our part to stem the tide, is sufficient enough proof that we, as Canadians, hold true and patriotic beliefs at the center of our attitude. Then, of course, those figures and numbers fall into the backdrop of our shared crisis, and the unrelenting desire for hope and change and freedom, albeit in an environment free of sickness and worry, rein in higher modes of thought, solidifying our stance in hope and change.

   Amidst a global pandemic we face an epidemic of mental illness, and the methods with which the treatments have become available feels fickle in comparison to the one-on-one therapist, or direct approach that, as a populace, has been proven to carry better results. Speaking for myself, I always found more comfort speaking about such dire personal circumstance face-to-face, and this new world order of social distancing, albeit justified and understandable, comes at a loss. Though again, as a matter of principle, I let the thought go and embraced as best I could our new world, and felt perhaps we need a more secure connection in partnerships of life and love, and the healing would follow suit. I hoped for hopes sake and trusted the woman I live with, the love of my life, and put my own word and testament to the case, before diving into a way to share my findings. Not that, the experiment is as cold as the word implies, but I was taught very young to write what I know, not what I desired to know, as conviction of heart and word hold greater significance to today than merely the theory of a theory, or here-say and happenstance.

   Empathy is a learned skill, and while it lies at the heart of our human connection, and interaction, the age of social media has driven us all into a false sense of relation, but upon further consideration, the same way to stay in touch, as the 'old ways' were no longer an option. With a standstill of safety and an unknown horizon, the connection some felt to be our youth's downfall, has in fact kept our hearts and thoughts, and yes, humor, well intact. How can an emotional response be understood and heard while you read that message, mere words of type on a small screen, hoping that an emoji or acronym will illustrate a real emotion, in the absence of our face, and voice? Well, as the step-up-and-ask method has been removed, it lies instead in the desire to, and over the months since the start of the Pandemic, has proven to hold truth; hope is in the air. 

   So much like the struggles of our past, our current state as a society has found it's way into the realm of it's forefathers, wherein we have been tested, seemingly, to our limits. Yet, here we stand, as they had done, wanting our voices heard in the name of change. I have found my faith, simply by waiting, and watching, patiently holding onto the beauty I have stood for, and beside, throughout my short and independent ventures as a poet. Though, personal opinions aside (as I refuse, at the moment, to delve deeper into the subjectivity of poetry as a whole) I must say that from time to time I see this very thing reflected in those around me; a kind hello from an unexpected stranger; an elderly man of whom holds the door open, regardless of what age and respect may dictate; seeing, at long last, families enjoying the outdoors, where once they desired to stay indoors. While a poet's words are subjective, a lasting love of the words tie that person to the real-world, and while my experiences are not yours, those same smiles and greetings, the gestures of politeness and respect, are as universal as the air we breathe.

   Since the beginning of this pandemic the lines were drawn and lain before us all, as Canadians, while we have watched and listened anxiously, as our government and Prime Minister, told us to stay calm, stay indoors, and keep clean, to help slow the spread of this sickness that has effected the entire globe. We miss our loved ones and the time we had to hold them, now seemingly another life, another world, and plug into the devices that have remained the only source of an already broken method of communication. Yes, there are real emotions to be found, in the form of video chat and phone calls, and of course, those short time periods we were told it was safe to go out. I have consistently asked myself why the reigns were pulled back, and why they were given slack at all, as the numbers illustrated to us by every media outlet, be it Fake News, Meme Culture, or even our local News Media, have been tossed around and repeated to oblivion in the form of a 'death-rate vs. sickness' broken telephone. Due to our nature as Canadians we have have hunkered down for the long-haul, and in the light of our Prime Minister's obvious dedication to this same method, a given strength of pride in kin and country has changed the way we look at our nation as a whole. 

   Hope is found not in hard facts and numbers, at all, but in the hope of everyday people in our communities. The front-line struggle and the oppression of isolation fail every single time in comparison to that warm smile, that kind hello, and the continuing of a life we love and want again. Perhaps hope is just around the corner, and perhaps our patience and dedication will take us further than we had initially believed, as business open and close on a rotating basis, and in fact the lasting truths are there in front of us. With how far this crisis has pushed humanity I hold great pride in being Canadian, as our true north strong and free is proving that, yes, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 

   As with any perspective, and likewise the view from here, I found peace in the casual way in which one walks about a city, with a coffee in hand, headphones off and stored in a satchel, with only the sounds of the city, herself. Needless to say I heard far more in my search for hope, bending an ear toward an observant thought, to find my center of being amongst a crowded populace. I give you my view, from here, but you are where you are and hope springs as eternal as the sun rises, sets, and rises once more. Seize the day, seize the night, and hold true to yourself. Hope will set us free. 
 

"all I see / in my dreams / is yet to be / my reality"

   -from, inner ramblings of a worried mind, Cody Vaters, copyright 2018

      Carpe Diem, my friends.
 
         Feb. 16th 2021