I try to remember before this.
Like when riding bicycles
& playing in sandboxes
Were commonplace.

When you took photos
Because it was fun
shaking plastic.
Not showing off
The free time
That has already been taken away.

I try to remember the plastic jewelry
Tightly bound paper
Melted clay
Pinched together sooo tightly
On a piece of string.
its taken away the patience
& creativity
Replaced by instant gratification.

I try to remember that smell:
Fresh
Sticky
Wholesome
Oven cooked
Hard work.
But now-
It comes right to your door.

I try to remember how the paper felt
When flipping through poetry books
Laughing
Crying
Remembering the voices
That carried the words like songs.

But I’m staring at a screen
Not a human.

Technology will never replace
What I’m trying to remember.