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#shiftwork
< I > Day arc begins. The sunflower class gazes lovingly skyward at their fire-star teacher. The newest pupils chin-strain in awe-focused attention. Reverent but energetic, their heads smooth-turn gradually westward towards their warm reward. Their blooms are a balmy destination for sunning bees. Perfect timing, rippling into the world…   A sage watched his plants while his plants tracked the sun He thought that it wasn’t worth noting that petals would right to keep facing the light as the sun-facing side was selectively dried So sagely inquiry was done Until the idea could receive its refloating A physical botanist noticed the same He took it a logic step further His plants were all placed and completely encased in a darkness-bound dock for a turn of the clock The plants kept rotating their aim And he was the first timing rhythm observer The more he considered, the more he was sure He could, based on solid deduction, with confidence say that they acted this way Through an inner intense, sunlight following sense And urged folks to study this more With rigours of research and science instruction Years later, two scientists lived in a cave A one-month foray in spelunking Still, noiseless and lightless, the cave was all timeless Just like the plant dock, but encased in cave rock Their temperature curves did not change So humans and plants had some notes to exchange… -- < II > People invent fake sunlight. Industry never stops. A timeless, tiring blur of day into night. We sit, pale and caffeinated. A world blinking fluorescent and midnight grey. A modern, diurnal nightmare. Timing battles fought from the inside… Perched aside the optic nerve Perfect clock inside the brain Captured sunlight through the eye Keeps us synched to night and day Time and time again Crossing zones will lead to lags Clock and earth fall out of step Difficult to sleep or wake Model it to count the cost Measured sleeping debt Scientists find many clocks Timing marked out body-wide Liver, kidney, stomach, skin Hair and muscle, pancreas All with clocks inside Timing cues from inside out Hormones and adrenal glands Exercise, consuming food Drinking, sleeping, changing mood Moving clockwork hands     *It’s tricky, said the shiftworker     I’m in a real to-do     My stomach thinks it’s ten am, my liver, half past two     My kidneys think it’s yesterday     My muscles Monday night     My brain in concert with the earth, keeps timing by the light     And all I want is sugar and a quiet kiss goodnight* Stomach, head, and heart in flux Health and safety chrono-shock Out of synch with social norms Shiftworkers are precious hands Pulled around-the-clock Invisible clocks set with sun-travel springs A hidden existence in all living things
0
Oct 26, 2024
Oct 26, 2024 at 3:22 AM UTC
jill_1
Human heliotropes
< I > Day arc begins. The sunflower class gazes lovingly skyward at their fire-star teacher. The newest pupils chin-strain in awe-focused attention. Reverent but energetic, their heads smooth-turn gradually westward towards their warm reward. Their blooms are a balmy destination for sunning bees. Perfect timing, rippling into the world…   A sage watched his plants while his plants tracked the sun He thought that it wasn’t worth noting that petals would right to keep facing the light as the sun-facing side was selectively dried So sagely inquiry was done Until the idea could receive its refloating A physical botanist noticed the same He took it a logic step further His plants were all placed and completely encased in a darkness-bound dock for a turn of the clock The plants kept rotating their aim And he was the first timing rhythm observer The more he considered, the more he was sure He could, based on solid deduction, with confidence say that they acted this way Through an inner intense, sunlight following sense And urged folks to study this more With rigours of research and science instruction Years later, two scientists lived in a cave A one-month foray in spelunking Still, noiseless and lightless, the cave was all timeless Just like the plant dock, but encased in cave rock Their temperature curves did not change So humans and plants had some notes to exchange… -- < II > People invent fake sunlight. Industry never stops. A timeless, tiring blur of day into night. We sit, pale and caffeinated. A world blinking fluorescent and midnight grey. A modern, diurnal nightmare. Timing battles fought from the inside… Perched aside the optic nerve Perfect clock inside the brain Captured sunlight through the eye Keeps us synched to night and day Time and time again Crossing zones will lead to lags Clock and earth fall out of step Difficult to sleep or wake Model it to count the cost Measured sleeping debt Scientists find many clocks Timing marked out body-wide Liver, kidney, stomach, skin Hair and muscle, pancreas All with clocks inside Timing cues from inside out Hormones and adrenal glands Exercise, consuming food Drinking, sleeping, changing mood Moving clockwork hands     *It’s tricky, said the shiftworker     I’m in a real to-do     My stomach thinks it’s ten am, my liver, half past two     My kidneys think it’s yesterday     My muscles Monday night     My brain in concert with the earth, keeps timing by the light     And all I want is sugar and a quiet kiss goodnight* Stomach, head, and heart in flux Health and safety chrono-shock Out of synch with social norms Shiftworkers are precious hands Pulled around-the-clock Invisible clocks set with sun-travel springs A hidden existence in all living things
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63
Country nighttime turned off the world Absolute window blacking Any other life void-invisible Universe shrunk snack-size Existence is only this cab, these tiny lights, this fuzzing radio One direction Only ahead Only these tracks A change in rhythm signals new territory Lower infrastructure spend Budget acknowledged by transitioning drum track More toms Double kick More bass, but no less hypnotising, no less soporific, no less slowing, no less… Snap. Driver vigilance alarm earns its keep Pierced by safety sound needles Bleary eyes split open Only closed for seconds Enough to dry 3am eyelash glue Intermittent, intensifying battle Open versus closed Here versus where Wake versus yawning, rocking, mesmerising, irresistible… Snap. Assistance required Scan for options Snoozing thermos drools its last drips onto the floor mat Moment of silence for coffee, our absent friend What else? Lunch box offers carrot sticks Sharp, crisp, smug No help. What else? Cake. A silent bargain – okay calories, we’ve had our differences, but we need to pull together Health is tomorrow, safety is now Sleepiness shrinks and stretches place and time There is only here Only now Battle and bargains Winning and losing Until the sun comes up
0
Oct 24, 2024
Oct 24, 2024 at 10:53 PM UTC
jill_1
Night train to cake
Country nighttime turned off the world Absolute window blacking Any other life void-invisible Universe shrunk snack-size Existence is only this cab, these tiny lights, this fuzzing radio One direction Only ahead Only these tracks A change in rhythm signals new territory Lower infrastructure spend Budget acknowledged by transitioning drum track More toms Double kick More bass, but no less hypnotising, no less soporific, no less slowing, no less… Snap. Driver vigilance alarm earns its keep Pierced by safety sound needles Bleary eyes split open Only closed for seconds Enough to dry 3am eyelash glue Intermittent, intensifying battle Open versus closed Here versus where Wake versus yawning, rocking, mesmerising, irresistible… Snap. Assistance required Scan for options Snoozing thermos drools its last drips onto the floor mat Moment of silence for coffee, our absent friend What else? Lunch box offers carrot sticks Sharp, crisp, smug No help. What else? Cake. A silent bargain – okay calories, we’ve had our differences, but we need to pull together Health is tomorrow, safety is now Sleepiness shrinks and stretches place and time There is only here Only now Battle and bargains Winning and losing Until the sun comes up
Continue reading...
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