To Be... What?
If I remember correctly, this was the first of the poems I wrote with the intent of using the number sequence as a through line. I wrote Anxiety, which will be out later today, first, but there it was, well, what am I saying, you can read a ramble about that poem in like an hour and some.
I wrote To be… What?, Joy, and a poem that will go up tomorrow, sort of simultaneously. I had been percolating on the idea of a number of poems using the sequence; I’ve always liked the idea of letting readers know some sort of silliness is going on, and dropping hints for them, but not necessarily telling them outright what to look for.
Sure some of that is because I grew up in a time when a few big properties were using ARGs to keep communities engaged; I didn’t even know anyone with an Xbox and yet even I was accidentally aware of the Halo 2 I Love Bees ARG.
Another part is a deeply-held desire to foster more critical thinking. Anecdotally, I’ve found that telling people there’s something going on, but not what, is one of the best ways to get them to engage. Blue Prince is probably the best recent example of this, and maybe the most unhinged. That damn puzzle game has some players (correctly) convinced there’s a secret meaning to be had in the the stride lengths depicted in paintings in one room, while it’s led others to help solve real world medieval mysteries.
The final reason is the silliest and most selfish; I want to see and hear how others interpret my writing.
I already know what they mean to me. I know why I found using this particular number sequence attractive. What I don’t know, is how these words will affect you. I may have an intent, but to me, the most important this is that every reader will feel differently.
Thank you so much for reading. There will be two more poems posting later today so keep an eye out for those.
Thank you as always to my supporters here, on Patreon, on Ko-fi, Twitch, and discord.
Extra Special thank you to April, Fragile Paper, Manfred, Pinball Witch, Pimento, and Yalc. I literally could not do this without you. I’d also like to shout out a bunch of awesome folks in trans authorial BlueSky spaces who’ve shared my work. I honestly don’t know how to explain how much that has meant to me this year.
I love you all, and if you are at Denver Pride today (June 28) or tomorrow, keep an eye-out for a weird futch goblin with a paint respirator and a witch-hat. And since I’m sure many of you are just as anxious as me, please feel free to come up and say hi!
