WRITING ON THE COMPUTER

From ten fingers flows a style

in homage to the Song dynasty,

ten streams joining

one broad current.

Today much faster than yesterday,

when the pen trembled.

Right thumb,

index, middle fingers,

less in charge,

but still taking up their labor.

The characters for cheer

end with the left little finger.

That interjection suggesting agreement

arriving from the right’s ring finger.

Words shift to and fro,

shuttling position.

Pulling closer, shoving back,

no dignity the old lead type

could not convey.

Line breaks

less hesitant than before,

stanza breaks falling

less smoothly into place,

endings more abrupt.