Verify You are Human
We tossed our watches out because our phones
told us the time and so much more, like when
to go to bed, how many steps our hearts
required us to take. We had an app
to order food, another app to flag
a ride. So when the grid went down, we had
no watches, and we left our sense of time
somewhere back in the ancient past, and now
a cyber bully with no social media
must find his prey in person. Tell me now:
who’s got the time to tell you to your face
that they don’t like your face? What did you call
me? How’d you call me with no phone? Face it:
the algorithm’s gone. The sun, the shadows, and
thr trees are calling. Now’s the time. Pick up.
9 thoughts on "Verify You are Human"
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This is very well done, and a good reminder.
“Pick up” comes from the old land line receiver where you would actually pick up the handset to activate it. So very appropriate to end with.
wonderful title–it adds so much
Those last words: “pick up”. They ring and close the poem well. Another fantastic write!
Excellent. This has been on my mind lately—how virtual life is replacing the real thing. (He says, typing on his iPhone.)
love: when the grid went down, we had
no watches, and we left our sense of time
yes! to: The sun, the shadows, and
the trees are calling. Now’s the time. Pick up.
Reminds me of the Pink Floyd song, Comfortably Numb – Hello, hello, Once more you have tapped into the vein of pop culture, and we have been found wanting. App has really become an annoying word. Always enjoy the show, Tom!
I’m a big Pink Floyd fan!
There’s a humor and urgency to this piece. The ending is so directive and drives it home. “Face it:/the algorithm’s gone./The sun, the shadows, and/thr trees are calling. Now’s the time. Pick up.” Yes!