Wednesday 22 August 2007

Connected

Walking with friends, anti-social
phone clamped to your head,
radiation tumouring your brain.

The school-roof phone mast
electrosmogs the pupils
with headaches, insomnia, memory loss.

Mining coltan in the Congo
modern day slaves
(who will never see a mobile phone)
are forced to sacrifice gorillas
on the altar
of an alien god.



I'm reposting this poem from the earlier days of this blog, to coincide with the publication on Bolts of Silk of Cell Phone Mania by Michael Lee Johnson. I have never owned a mobile phone.

17 comments:

Everydaythings said...

powerful!

Giggles said...

Yes very powerful...
Peace Giggles

polona said...

a poignant and powerful poem.

Anonymous said...

"The school-roof phone mast
electrosmogs the pupils
with headaches, insomnia, memory loss."

Thoughtful lines...

Constance Brewer said...

"radiation tumoring your brain" ought to get their attention! Nice job, very to the point.

etcetera said...

Reminds me how strange (and destructive) we are. Strong and effective.

Anonymous said...

After this effectively waspish attack I think I'll dump my mobile!

Tammy Brierly said...

So true! I've never owned one and never will. If anyone calls me while driving they know I'll hang up. :)

The movie "Blood Diamond" was a big wake up call.

Anonymous said...

"Electrosmogs" is a great word. Did you invent it? This is a powerful piece!

Tumblewords: said...

Great post!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Thanks for your comments!

Dick - life is so much better without a mobile - go for it - get rid of it!

Split Ends - I may have invented the word!

abby - the geek girl said...

Love the juxtaposition. Nice. :)

Anonymous said...

You made a really powerful statement here. It's just too bad the mobile had invaded and penetrated deeply into our everyday life to ever be discarded.
Anyway, excellent poem.

Deb said...

I love how you start right out with "friends" and "anti-social". Sets it right up. Not that you pull any punches :-)

Holly Mac said...

Really great poem and a really powerful statement.

Clare said...

It drives me mad when people are talking and texting while at social events, especially intimate dinners. And brain tumors are on the rise, too. Really powerful poem, Crafty -- well done.
:)

Anonymous said...

I agree it's a powerful poem. Makes me feel guilty about my phone