Poem: Love, Technically

Now that life’s all 1’s and 0’s,
our separate snowflake selves
reduced to helixed A, T, G and C,
where’s the romance
that once sweltered under lifeguard towers,
salty kisses doo-wopped sweet by gulls?

Where’s the Motown lilt
now Tinder’s tasked with tenderness
and smartphones flick emojis
with impatient thumbs?

Where’s the fire
that warmed dark basements with its crackle pop
now chats are frozen
into cool blue YouTube light?

Where’s Coppertone-stiff towels,
long hot summers sealed with a kiss?

What happened to forever-after
on a bended knee?

Where’s love?

Paula Rudnick is a former television writer and producer who has spent the past 30 years as a volunteer for nonprofit organizations.