"Untitled (for Sam 'Porter' Bridges)"

Logan Lawrence

Logan Lawrence (he) is a scientist, father, and come-from-away living in Halifax / Kjipuktuk. He’s still trying out calling himself a poet.

“The 2019 video game Death Stranding was poorly reviewed by North American critics, despite significant hype and the aegis of renowned designer Hideo Kojima. In trying to understand why, I came across a video essay arguing that the taste of North American audiences was at odds with the philosophy imbued in the gameplay: in a post-apocalyptic world where the character (Sam ‘Porter’ Bridges’) delivers packages across a treacherous landscape, the monotony and difficulty easily frustrated players. While video games are often thought of as fun activities, what if they could help us develop skills that could prepare us for uncertain futures?”

When Earth reclaims its shaggy head
from centuries of shovels’ teeth, and brings
planes from the sky with magnetic shrugs,
two points will be so remote
that someone will have to walk

between apex and — what are we? Too tender
to bleed over paths not meant to be
and so resigned to constellate society
but still someone chooses to walk between
with burdens that may not make it and
messages from those who still breathe:
Thinking of you defying
a slow march into the sea —
pause on the beach. Hold this dear:
The sun still rises
and so must we.