Dad
and Coronavirus
scratch in my head
at similar places
Cautious voices
Don’t get close
A hug may be an act of danger
or disguised aggression
My life is on hold
Still
It’s me and Dad
in a sad house.
I want a life
Outside
my bedroom
and my head
Please.
Grindr?
Okcupid?
Onlylads?
I’d rather
face-to-face
body-to-body
Passion Heat Desire Emotion
on my fingers
Because
once you hang up
you’re on your own
again
Disconnected
Out of touch
Down
I want
to notice
You
over there
across a room,
even if it is only 20 people or less
and my hands smell of alcohol rub.
I am old fashioned, I explain to myself
Mostly wishing I wasn’t
but
sometimes proud
of this point of difference
I’m not interested in Facebook-Fuck the phone-Fuck the people glued to their phones-Zombies who have forgotten
to look around.
In my bedroom
I watch and wish
Friends and I love Lucy and The Golden Girls
Canned laughter is the backdrop to my 20s
But I am tough
Tougher than the smartest phone
Tough when I hit the curb
I wait to love you
Up close
offline.
+
Casey Scanlon has recently found his way into the gay community and is hopeful that a relationship will follow soon. He loves animals and volunteers at the RSPCA. The poem was developed with Henry von Doussa, who has been supporting Casey as he finds connections in the LGBTIQ community.
Bent Street 