Exit West - Found Poems by Zachary Lowe https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc Ways of Leaving - Chapter 5 en-us 2019-02-07 15:46:24 UTC 2020-02-11 14:15:19 UTC hello@padlet.com Potential Departure zachary_a_lowe1 https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/328801572 The prospect of something new:
A looming potential

the loss of a home,
no less. 

Change is
at its most basic level
exciting--

at the mercy of strangers,
subsistent on handouts --

But also: cages us
like vermin.

Still: "You must go."

No doubt, if given 
a chance.]]> 2019-02-07 15:49:53 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/328801572 Still Here https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329167218 Keen to depart, 
leave his city, 
but in his imagination. 

Temporarily, 
Intermittently, 
He would come back.

Never once and for all, 
sat lifeless,
clung to by a few desiccated leaves.

"I will not come"
In his imagination
"Not for me" 

At the mercy of strangers,
caged in pens like vermin.


 




]]> 2019-02-08 13:04:11 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329167218 Him and Her https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329171160 Loss of a home
no less
His Home

In his imagination
he had thought he would leave it only temporarily
Never once and for all

Forever
Struck him as deeply sad
Family
Friends
Acquaintances
Loss

Her nature was such that
the prospect
was
Exciting to her]]> 2019-02-08 13:17:23 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329171160 https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329171485 Impossible,
struck him as deeply sad.
The loss of his home.

Feverishly keen to depart,
at the mercy of strangers,
neither expected.

No doubt that he would leave,
doubted he would come back.

A handwritten note,
haunted by worries,
this looming potential.

"Your mother is here."
They had to go, and he had to stay.]]> 2019-02-08 13:18:25 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329171485 Leaving more than just home https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329173267 Finding a way out
Desperately wanted to leave

Feverishly keen to depart
the prospect of something new
exciting her

Scattering of his extended family
circle of friends
and acquaintances

You two must go
but I will not come




]]> 2019-02-08 13:23:26 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329173267 Haikus https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329173519 The loss of a home
Not entirely straightforward
At its most basic

                                                                                                                  Looming potential
                                                                                                                  Altogether different
                                                                                                                  If given the chance

In pens like vermin
Whatever their misgivings
Haunted by worries

]]> 2019-02-08 13:24:06 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329173519 Changes https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329173787 Childhood leaves,
Loss of imagination.

Haunted by nostalgia,
By family, by home.

Caged like vermin,
Pain clings deeply,
Would not be budged.

Looming impulse carries mercy.

He never spoke,
Then thought:
“Your sense must go.”

And repeated, stronger:
“Your sense must go.”

New temperment pushed.

Worries gone.
]]> 2019-02-08 13:24:48 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329173787 Finding a Way Out https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329201415 Leave the city,
the loss of his home.

Something new, of change.
Haunted by worries, 
Mercy of strangers, caged like vermin.

"Your sense must go"

]]> 2019-02-08 14:18:24 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329201415 https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329204955 Leave
Exciting, at its most basic level
But had thought he would leave it only temporarily,
Never once and for all

Stay
His home,
His extended family and his circle of friends and acquaintances

Whatever their misgivings,
No doubt that they would leave

]]> 2019-02-08 14:24:06 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329204955 Trapped https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329258771 Excitement for something new
Change
Exciting, yet haunting
Taking action, being independent 
Together
Taking the first steps 
Together
Alone, yet together
Will they take the chance?
Together]]> 2019-02-08 15:54:52 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329258771 Gone for too long https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329264019 desperately wanted to leave
never once and for all
loss of his home
exciting
but haunted by worries
must go
if given the chance]]> 2019-02-08 16:02:56 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329264019 Nostalgia https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329264532 He doubted he would come back.
The loss of a home
struck him as deeply sad.
The impulse of nostalgia
was stronger
than the prospect of something new.]]> 2019-02-08 16:03:46 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329264532 https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329266236 deeply sad nostalgia
scattering desperately 
precisely not straight forward
comfortable movement 
must go]]> 2019-02-08 16:07:01 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329266236 Circumstances https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329266295 Such circumstances struck him
The loss of a home
Scattering family
Haunted by worries
"You two must go, but I will not come"]]> 2019-02-08 16:07:07 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329266295 change https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329266839 thought it would be temporary
never once in for all
but now
doubted he would comeback
deeply sad
she was haunted by worries too



]]> 2019-02-08 16:08:13 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329266839 an uncertain certainty https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329266913 altogether different, 
forever, 
once and for all, 

continue to be
at the mercy of strangers

both of them, though, 
"must go"]]> 2019-02-08 16:08:20 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329266913 The Departure https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329267243 "You two must go, but I will not come"
what could possibly make him want to stay?
this was impossible, and explained, in case of misunderstanding, he repeated, there was no problem, they would all be leaving together, he repeated, they had paid, he repeated
We were feverishly keen to depart, desperately wanted to leave
But the loss of his home struck him as deeply sad, for he doubted he would come back
he would be at the mercy of strangers, subsistent on handouts, caged in pens like vermin
But the prospect of something new, of change, was at its most basic level exciting to us
we had to go
he had to stay



]]> 2019-02-08 16:08:56 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329267243 Sacrifice https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329267712 Desperately wanted to leave his city
He would leave it only temporarily 
Never once and for all

This looming potential departure was altogether different
He doubted he would come back
Which stuck him as deeply sad

"You two must go, but I will not come."
"Mother is gone."
"Not for me."]]> 2019-02-08 16:09:39 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329267712 Leaving https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329267796 Loss of his home
Caged in pens like vermin

Scattering of his extended family
And his circle of friends
Struck him as deeply sad.

Worries of going abroad and leaving their country
At the mercy of strangers


]]> 2019-02-08 16:09:49 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329267796 https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329270397 the scattering
struck him as deeply sad
his childhood had been more idyllic
the loss of a home
of his home

more comfortable with all varieties of movement in her life
she was haunted by worries too
dependence
at the mercy of strangers

Though, whatever their misgivings,
they would leave if given the chance]]> 2019-02-08 16:14:31 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329270397 What Was, is No Longer https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329271475 His city
Lifeless
Loss of a home
Caged
Keen to Depart
Haunted by worries
Must go]]> 2019-02-08 16:16:14 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329271475 https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329279672 as they hurried home
all he said was "let us hope"
haunted by worries]]> 2019-02-08 16:29:38 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329279672 Migration https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329438385 Leaving their country
at the mercy of strangers
revolving around dependence
comfortable with all varieties of movement in her life
keen to depart
looming potential departure
in whom the impulse of nostalgia was stronger
because his childhood had been more idyllic]]> 2019-02-09 00:29:54 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329438385 Not Entirely Straightforward https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329455117 Mother is here
Mother is gone

She was
Feverishly keen
She was
Haunted by worries

She
Had to go
And
Had to stay

Her
Circle of friends
Was simply
Given the
Mercy of strangers
Only temporarily 
Intermittently
Once and for all

In case of misunderstanding
All varieties of movement in her life
Looming
Was no problem


]]> 2019-02-09 04:27:07 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329455117 Departure https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329457677 loss of a home, no less, of his home
scattering of extended family
doubted he would come back
leaving their country




]]> 2019-02-09 05:23:15 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329457677 The Note https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329536611 They
sat lifeless on their balcony. 
Desiccated leaves
looming
temporarily, intermittently, never once and for all. 
Neither expected 
a handwritten note:
“You two must go, but I will not come.”

Haunted by worries,
caged in pens like vermin.
Mercy of strangers
seem surprising; 
revolving around dependence. 

They
desperately wanted to leave,
feverishly keen to depart. 
Potential departure 
at its most basic level exciting to her. 

Impulse of nostalgia:
different,
impossible,
misunderstanding. 

Leaving together
threatened
change.
Varieties of movement in life,
he was, 
more comfortable
with.

His 
childhood had been more idyllic 
But 
even still
they would leave if given the chance 

A handwritten note,
again,
They, he repeated, had to go and he had to stay. 

]]> 2019-02-09 22:44:28 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329536611 Homeless https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329539796 Nostalgia was stronger
Childhood more idyllic
Circle of friends
Extended family

A home

Mother is gone
Looming departure
Caged in pens
Three passages

No home

]]> 2019-02-09 23:48:33 UTC https://padlet.com/zachary_a_lowe1/ogm33nlagunc/wish/329539796