Transmission

by Mary Padilla

For meaning to travel
it has to start somewhere
and then go to someplace
set up to receive it.

These need to be tuned in
to the same wavelength,
and there must be a medium
that they have in common –

a sharing of context
to transmit a concept
that makes at least some sense
to both of the parties.

Of couse this is all true
of sound and of light,
but it applies just as well
to ideas and to feelings.

They too need a sender,
and also a receiver,
but communication
is still not guaranteed.

While these two elements
are both important,
they do not suffice
to create the connection.

There needs to be overlap
between expectations
so that the message
can be understood.

Otherwise
it’s just
a clash
of codes.

Mary Padilla: I write to see what will come out.