Someone Said There Was a Blackout
didn’t even miss it,
that techno tether
burning a vitriol hole
through everyone’s pockets
by next week, all will be
forgotten, down that
cavernous void, or up
into that cloud
we think we know about
but there’s so many
blowing whistles
you would think
someone would take heed–
what’s that you just said?
i was busy
reading this tweet
everyone you meet
can’t make eye contact,
we kiss over screens,
miss out on the sky scenes
evidence in photographs,
tagged pixels, macro murals,
it’s all happening, but nothing
is valued, remembered, just shared
& spared all explanation
I’ve lost all solar sensation,
my light is blue, my cosmic hue
dulled, readjusted, my spine askew,
what can we do for you?
night visitors demand a response
but they’ve appeared during
the wrong renaissance
& no one answers
when they’re alone,
& no child is born
without first staring
into the eye lens
of a cellular phone
Image by Otodex from Pixabay
Thistle Thoughts 
Jennifer, what an apt picture you have painted! We will remain tethered despite the warnings.
I am so enjoying your poetry. ❤️
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Thanks! And yeah, it’s just going to be the way it is I suppose. Breaks are so necessary though. We should take care not to become the machine. 🙂
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So we should! You are welcome.
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A sad portrait that you’ve described well …. the too much focus on screens and phones. Like the other commenter, I’ve also enjoyed your October poetry. Good luck with the rest of the month!
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Thanks so much, Dave!
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This had the effect of instantly making me long to shut down everything, but then how would I get your poems? ☺️ I live for the blackouts, and scrolling-induced vision problems are about to make me take another break, but I always come back…
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I feel you. I have to take the screens in increments, but there are times I miss the days without all this. I missed everyone’s poetry & sharing mine the most when I did take almost three years off, so it’s like this odd trade off that right now is worth it to me. I was asleep during the recent “big blackout” & I was truly amazed to see so much mention of it. I’m a lot better about stepping away when I need to than I used to be, which is good because I was only hurting myself.
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love it
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Thanks, Ruth 🧡
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Good one 👍 I’m definitely guilty of this. I’ve stopped trying to fight it too. Sometimes it feels like resistance is futile 😆
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Thanks. Just make sure to take care of you! 😄
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Indeed
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This is a really beautiful poem! On the one hand, it is about the here and now and very aptly described (& no child is born without first staring into the eye lens of a cellular phone) and on the other hand, it is so otherworldly, so sublime! Reading this poem was an experience of a kind!
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Thank you!
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My pleasure.
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