GENERAL VERSE

ON THE PORCH

The sun shone brightly on Morross Street.
The screeching bikes arrive and drop to the ground.
Outside my window, I heard their scrambling feet,
And there was joy and laughter all around.

Excitedly, they arrived, pounding on my side door.
I was eager to start whatever adventure lay ahead.
Who knew back then what fate had in store?
There was so much to conquer and many roads to tread.

On my front porch, we would nightly convene;
To share stories and laugh at a silly joke.
Our eyes were bright, not fixed on a phone screen,
And there was constant eye contact as we spoke.

We sat on porches, and there was time to kill,
With burgers and beer, we talked and ate.
When stories flowed freely and time stood still,
Before we learned how to digitally isolate.

The creaking of bike chains kept the evening’s beat,
While fireflies danced and the days felt like forever;
Now phone screens glow as we scroll and tweet,
Missing moments that once brought us together.

No message notifications broke our spell,
As we laughed and played throughout the night;
Just the songs of crickets with tales to tell,
And friendship’s warmth that glowed with light.

It’s time to power down these devices we prize,
And return to the days without despair;
This virtual reality is for fools, but we were wise;
We had genuine connections in the open air.

The porch still stands, so let us reprise,
And bring back life’s unhurried scenes;
Where we might lift our downcast eyes,
And rediscover what true connection means.

©Habib Dabajeh