Morning’s glaring light tickles me.

Question

I wake, even and ready for the day.
My phone trills—like a pet, greeting.
A thumb, a swipe, and friends rush in.

A scroll unravels, miles and miles of friends, acquaintances, and looser connections still,
and I drink in their news, their joy, their uncertainty,
their thoughts, and their day’s hopes.
My fingers tap across the screen as I spill my own morning quandaries into the world and then—
a swell of reactions, laughter, jokes, and solidarity
shouting out that I am seen, felt, and heard!
The swell of connection carries me through my morning on a high tide of bliss,
wondering how anyone who lived in the before times managed
the distance between friends and loved ones
without the pure simplicity of pocket-sized accessibility.

Afternoon comes, and
notifications taper.
So little activity, though I refresh.
Low tide, low spirits.
And I wonder if I’ve said something wrong
or if I alone lack purpose beyond my screen.
Still, I scroll—
but nothing changes.

Evening comes and with it a flutter of activity—a spark of controversy that has all atwitter
A piece of news we chew together, rage in sync, in delicious solidarity.
Likes and loves, resentment of a common oppressor.
We surf the wave of emotion together—
posting, sharing, performing for ourselves and each other.
I eat dinner with my thumb on a hot screen in anticipation of the inevitable BING!
And the warmth is tangible, swelling around me like an embrace.
I feel at one with so many.

I post.
Strong words, strong feelings.
Fifteen minutes of silence pass by,
and then . . .
a surge of terror.
Did anyone read what I said?
Do they care?
My vulnerability is exposed
to the void.
The void is silent.
Silence is worse than anything.

I put my phone away and pick up a pen.
I sketch like I used to sketch as a child.
I change the pen for a book, and I read.
Soon, I’m tired, ready for bed, but I see
a red light blinking—a light that perhaps
can wait until tomorrow to claim me.

Two-Part Question
Multiple Choice Question
The following question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Part A:

What BEST describes how the structure of the poem conveys the author's metaphor?

A.
The back and forth between happiness and sadness reflects the speaker's energy level and ability to connect to others.

B.
The physical shape of the stanzas reflects an ocean-like rise and fall which coincides with the speaker's emotions.

C.
The level of connection experienced at different times of day reflects the rising and setting of the sun.

D.
The attitude toward social media is reflected by how many words the speaker is willing to give in each stanza.
Multiple Choice Question
Part B:

What line from the text BEST supports the correct answer to Part A?

A.
A scroll unravels, miles and miles of friends, acquaintances, and looser connections still,

B.
The swell of connection carries me through my morning on a high tide of bliss,

C.
I feel at one with so many.

D.
I post.

Answer 1

Part A:

The best choice that describes how the structure of the poem conveys the author's metaphor is:

A. The back and forth between happiness and sadness reflects the speaker's energy level and ability to connect to others.

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Part B:

The line from the text that best supports the correct answer to Part A is:

B. The swell of connection carries me through my morning on a high tide of bliss.

This line illustrates the metaphor of rising emotions and connection during the morning, while the structure shows the shifts in the speaker's experience throughout the day.