Modern Times

                                      (Picture Credit - Shanghai by Ask2Travel com)

In teenage years I and others dreamt

Of hover cars,

Moving pavements

And endless star treks.

 

But what did we get?

People shuffling along with heads in mobiles.

All transfixed by a Virtual World.

A seemingly endless forest of digital pages

As they scroll down through a teeming waterfall

Of so-called comments, images and memes.

 

But in the real world

Buildings crumble

People freeze and starve

Because some computer says

They don’t have the “Money”

To maintain anything or

Even feed themselves

Or their children.

 

Where did that image of a glorious future go?

You don’t need telling that

We have war in Europe

As mighty Superpowers and International Corporations

Jostle with one another

To control our lives.

World domination is what they seek.

 

Their factories pour clouds of black smoke

Into the sky

While they appease us with Climate Conferences

And blame Mister and Missus Everyone

For polluting the planet.

 

But as I say, you don’t need me to tell you this

Or sooth you with a Moon in June.

As the Americans say, Reality sucks

Which is why

All those heads are stuck in all those phones.

 

Paul Butters

 

© PB 9\11\2022.