The Sweater

The Sweater

I have been invited to an online writing group

For women.

We meet first thing in the morning,

Tell what we are working on.

Then meet an hour and a half later

To share what we have accomplished

Honestly.

With humility

Humour.

Accountability

On our screens

The moderator greets us with ease.

She is beautiful in the way people truly deserve the word,

A light from her

Diffused with

Wit,

Compassion,

Intelligence.

Small boxes feature the rest of us.

Me from Central Canada

The rest from the Eastern Seaboard.

An hour's difference.

Computer cameras cut us all off at the shoulders.

We are faces,

Morning hair quickly swept up or brushed.

In the backgrounds

Papers,

Artwork,

A dog,

A child,

Walls of literature.

Someone is paying attention.

Not me.

They post a message to the moderator,

"I like your sweater!"

Followed by

Maple Leaf emoji.

Broken heart emoji

What?

The moderator is wearing an I heart Canada sweater?

The maple leaf in place of a heart.

Oh.

That's so nice.

I had no idea.

A New Yorker owns an I Love Canada sweater.

So, ...

Am I getting this right?

She got up in the morning and decided

To dig the sweater out of a closet or drawer

And wear it to the writing group?

Ohhhhhhh.

So, ...

She did this in order that

We would see?

Well, that's just...

I don't know...

Kind? Selfless? Generous?

Neighbourly.

Her act isn't just apology.

It's protest.

It's recognition.

Without a word it says,

Don't believe the abuse and disrespect.

That's not US.

We see you, Canada.

We get you, Canada.

You keep being you, Canada.

I thought I was just going to write.

Chat with writers

Online.

Instead, internet and political barriers fell away.

Peace.

I post a message.

"I love that sweater."

I really do.

I say the only thing I can think of,

"Thank you."

The moderator replies,

"I've ordered more Canada merch!"

Stay tuned.

I was invited to an online writing group

For women.

We meet first thing in the morning,

Tell what we are working on.

Then meet an hour and a half later

To share what we accomplished

Honestly.

With humility

humour.

Accountability

Our moderator greets us with ease.

She is beautiful in the way people truly deserve the word

A light from her

diffused with

wit,

compassion,

intelligence.

Small boxes feature the rest of us.

Me from Central Canada

The rest from the Eastern Seaboard.

An hour’s difference.

Computer cameras cut us all off at the shoulders

We are faces,

Morning hair quickly swept up or brushed.

In the background

a dog

a child

Walls of literature.

Someone is paying attention.

Not me.

They post a message to the moderator,

“I like your sweater!”

Maple Leaf emoji.

A broken heart emoji.

What?

The moderator is wearing an I heart Canada sweater?

The Maple Leaf in place of a heart.

Oh, my.

That’s so nice.

I had no idea.

A New Yorker owns an I love Canada sweater.

So, …

am I getting this right?

She got up in the morning and decided

To dig the sweater out of a closet or drawer

And wear it to the writing group?

Oh.

So,…

She did this in order that

A Canadian would see?

Well, that’s just…

I don’t know…

Kind? Selfless? Generous?

Neighbourly.

Her act isn’t just an apology.

It’s protest.

It’s recognition.

Without speaking it says,

Don’t believe the abuse and disrespect.

That’s not US.

We see you, Canada

We get you, Canada

You keep being you, Canada.

I thought I was just going to write and chat with writers.

Instead, internet and political restrictions fell away.

Peace.

I post a message,

“I love that sweater.”

I really do.

I say the only thing I can think of,

“Thank you.”

The moderator replies,

“I’ve ordered more Canada merch!”

Stay tuned.