“Pandemic Wildflower Garden”
Phone Photo DS
Many of us went for daily walks during the height of the pandemic. It was heartening to see so many friendly faces in the neighbourhood. We were survivors.
As I practice lament personally and for others, here are my explorations:
Chong, Kevin. The Plague. 2018. (Prof. of Creative Writing, U.B.C.)
751 words
Multi-genre research *** characterization *** setting *** original metaphors *** Close observation of human behaviour *** stories within stories *** different ways of providing information *** understanding of culture *** irony, non-believer actually Christ figure *** well-observed sense of place *** prophetic *** cross-cultural masterpiece *** They all attempted a futile struggle to forget what happened. *** They made sure to wish their exes happy birthday by text message. They visited their parents on weekends. They overate on Saturdays and hiked on Sundays. *** Her humour had grown caustic in the past year. *** It had been different since Elyse fell ill Rieux thought. It was the difference between going to church and feeling one’s heart churn in the refrain of a hymn. *** humour then pathos *** narrator interjections *** story offered through the eyes of five? witnesses especially a DTES male doctor, male reporter, the mayor, a visiting author from Hong Kong *** rich cultural detail *** The yo-yo he owned was an indulgence and an aspirational purchase, it was made for professionals and produced a pleasant ratcheting sound as it unwound. *** Rieux was arrogant – like many doctors Saddhu had met. *** There’s been a flu in the neighbourhood. *** He’d kicked a dead rat. *** She’d needed to quit; she needed the band width. *** Tso was reminded that ‘sorry’ was a form of punctuation in Canada. *** As she gave her remarks, pausing for chuckles, a parallel talk took shape in her mind. *** The lecture was unexpectedly pleasant, but she’d reached her half-life of fun. *** Unlike most of her contemporaries who explored mixed media and abstraction . . . *** He’d passed on to his only son his hair, his slight stature, and according to Mrs. Rieux, his taste for argument. *** In Hong Kong she was waited on by a Filipina helper hired by her older sister. *** It was the better room, with a mountain view, the one they had set aside for a nursery. *** He felt the superintendent’s shame reflect back onto him. *** The swelling of his lymph nodes startled Rieux. The doctor slept poorly that night. *** The next morning before work he found six rats. *** For the first few days, the results were kept undercover. The name of the disease had ugly historical connotations, and the antibiotics used to treat modern cases were highly effective. *** Many ascribed the fatalities to a resurgence in the drub problems. *** The Coastal Health Authority released information on hand-washing and warnings to stay away from rodents and wild life but only a few people knew someone affected by the illness. *** Her extended stopover in Vancouver during a public health crisis was an opportunity for reflection . . . *** More and more people were wearing face masks in public. *** People were coughing in the library, coughing into their hands then typing their queries at the Internet terminals afterward, she went to the drugstore and bought hand sanitizer. *** He swiped his Compass card as he rushed through the Skytrain gates . . . *** They met in a way that is typical of Vancouver aquaintanceships. *** I don’t plan to die anytime soon even with the pandemic outside. *** The whisky tasted like the ocean, a shoeshine, and a campfire. *** We are trying to do things differently. *** Guess who we want to contact the mayor for comments? *** New faces ran our scant groceries through the register . . . *** He has to be monitored closely. *** I’m done hiding, I can meet you anywhere. *** I thought the people of Vancouver needed some distraction. *** There’s too much distrust of doctors. *** Rieux craved exercise and air. *** You made your volunteers sign waivers. *** Since the holidays there have been funerals galore. *** She was uncommonly beautiful in a way that made Siddhu envy women for their ability to fawn over young children without becoming criminally suspect. *** The dying spoke with no fear of consequences. *** They watched the seagulls gather around the crust and he threw them another piece. *** Isn’t it possible not to believe in God but still feel his influence? *** He had become, as he feared, a stranger to his own sons. *** The other night he’s tried to kiss her in the restaurant lounge. He wasn’t her type. *** This caution was not heeded. *** Nurses came and went. *** Any history contains contradictions. ***
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ShellseekerReflections 