Have you ever had the experience of trying to join a community but somehow, something or someone or some time or another just does not allow it to work out? Some experiences this past week inspired me to this poem, again in the spirit of Making via the #CLmooc experience.
When community is not community
When community is not community,
No matter how we try.
With tags, and supporter, and guidelines
galore,
what I do, and you do, and we do together,
still somehow it escapes,
and evades,
and hides
before our noses.
How does it feel when
a part is more apart?
For others it seems to work, but not for me.
Does trying or wanting factor in
when fitting just does not?
That’s ok?
Alignment is not for all at all times.
Alignment is not for all at all times.
In the spirit of creating, a couple of us who seem to have some interest in poetry have been considering a tag for them, and after considering of #clPoet or #CLpoem, seems the latter may be more fitting.
Finally, I am categorizing the poems I write throughout #CLmooc in this new Poetry category I created. Hope they may be helpful or meaningful in some way to at least a couple people in our community.
When community is not community: A #clPoem for #CLmooc http://t.co/cjdQGl1Hbo http://t.co/tFoiNKDL9h http://t.co/8fIdVg1XSj
When community is not community: A #clPoem for #CLmooc http://t.co/H4So31Su7l via @JeffreyKeefer
I am going to set up a category as well. Great. Now I just need the guts to post my poetry. It will come, right?
Sure, not all poetry has to be personal or even dark . . .
Can’t wait to read yours, Anna!
Breaking in to a community can be daunting. I have gained more bravery the more I just do it. I hope those of us inspired and driven by poetry can create our own CLmooc poetry community. I am working on a blog post for tomorrow for Poetry Friday, another online community that is very welcoming and engaging.
@margaretsmn Great! Some of us are trying to use a common tag, and it seems some have settled on #clPoem.
BTW, what is Poetry Friday?
From my post today, you can follow the link on PF icon. It’s a group of teachers/writers/poets that link up each week.
https://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/2015/06/26/poetry-and-clmooc/
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Feeling left out has long been a personal struggle of mine. At some point within the last five years I blessedly realized that I don’t have to feel a part of something, but can be apart from it and still learn and grow from it.
@Michelle, this is something that permeates my research in a related way — my studies have focused on liminal spaces, which are being in the middle of things and thus left out on a different level. Interesting that upon talking about these experiences, lots of people seem to come out to share how their experiences are more similar than different. Useful to remember when we feel isolated . . .
RT @JeffreyKeefer: When community is not community: A #clPoem for #CLmooc http://t.co/cjdQGl1Hbo http://t.co/tFoiNKDL9h http://t.co/8fIdVg1…
When community is not community: A #clPoem for #CLmooc http://t.co/UT8PKicQou via @JeffreyKeefer
RT @grammasheri: When community is not community: A #clPoem for #CLmooc http://t.co/UT8PKicQou via @JeffreyKeefer
Thanks for the RT! @grammasheri: When community is not community: A #clPoem for #CLmooc http://t.co/tFoiNKmahJ via @JeffreyKeefer
“A part feels more like apart”
You remind us we all have a role in making people feel welcome in our communities. Looking forward to being part of this #clpoem community and love understanding its origin.
Cathy
Thanks, Cathy. I suppose it involves what sort of community we envision and how open we want it to be. To this point, I look forward to working with you!