If a TV were to be switched on, showing anything,
how quickly I would fall into its evil clutches.

It may be true; we may have to imagine;
there is no TV here, no string of messages
on a mobile phone, no neighbours 
sharing their music.

I wouldn't normally put myself forward but
I feel whatever we do here
 we should meet like this again and often.

Not knowing the future
(as opposed to 
the machine-like march of one foot after the other)
we should come to value this vertigo
(in our lives rather than in game shows
passing for entertainment)

Boo to ugly bans, arbitrary guidelines
and cartels fully in control. Where?
In the sacred funfair of our hard-won,
proudly flaunted freedoms.

And so, meeting here, I feel I am
waking from a nightmare of drowning.

Never again should I take for granted this privilege.
I have no choice but to return to where I was
but now I have a secret like butterflies in my tummy.
Thank you for sharing this rare opportunity.