the evolution of literacy

we are making
the evolutionary shift
to sitting
hours a day, hunched
over keyboards and books
like vultures
pasty skinned
backs forgetting the shape
of straight,
shoulders in attitude of stone

remember our ancient
grandmother, shifting from all
fours to feet? they ached like this.
still, she walked
and reached into trees.
our bodies resist change,
but cannot resist it,
the need to write and read
and learn to knead
each other’s necks.