Random Answers Poem by anais vionet

Anna and I were sitting on an outdoor bench. To get some fresh air, our classes are virtual this week and we were feeling claustrophobic. I was working on a poem idea on my iPad and Anna was uploading an assignment from her laptop.

The bench is by a walkway and there were a few people passing by. I asked Anna, "What's an alternative word for paralysis? " And three rando students walking by answer my question, in less time than Anna can even look up from her Mac.

"Tetraplegia, " says a girl on the far side of the walk - who passed us right to left - her friends laughed at her for answering my question. "Palsy, " says a guy who was passing the other way, on our side - he didn't even look up from his phone. And last, a guy behind the girls says, "standstill."

I just look up and smile - I love this place. Everyone's friendly and collaborative. There's an almost homogeneous curiosity about the world.

"Maybe I should create a sidewalk, crossword-puzzling channel on Twitch? " I ask Anna, who just shook her head, "No."