at first spring's blush
i inked you to my hands
from dawn to dusk
your every squeak, flashing lights
my screen time, life-
you ate up all my space
chewed pictures, thoughts
and blurted them to friends, foes
anyone - like, love, share
you became bed, pillows
smooching my face
'til i broke up all bonds
misery, my lot-
in social media sea
disconnected
though i'm an octopus
holding 8 gadgets
i float with needy eyes
near, far, nowhere-
Credit: here
Posted for D'verse poets pub - MTB hosted by Frank Hubeny ~ We are tackling irony in our poems. Joins us when the pub opens at 3pm EST.
Very well done. It's hard to feel connected with so many ways to do so on the internet, yet it's hard to feel disconnected, too.
ReplyDeleteYay... ieverywhere and nowhere... I recognize the feeling here. The image is perfect for the skillset we might need.
ReplyDeleteVery nice title. Can't get connected enough with the internet.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your 'Internet octopus', Grace, and especially like the lines:
ReplyDelete'i inked you to my hands
from dawn to dusk';
'you ate up all my space
chewed pictures, thoughts
and blurted them to friends, foes
anyone - like, love, share';
and
'in social media sea
disconnected'.
Ah, we all have to beware that social media sea, lest we become disconnected! This made me smile!
ReplyDeleteWho are the masters--who are the slaves? Is our youth twisted, perverted into ignorance & apathy? Don't get me revved up; loved your delicious tentacle lashing.
ReplyDeleteSo sadly true of what is the curse of social media. A multitude of so-called friends and the loneliness of real life. (I use all little.)
ReplyDeleteKind regards
Anna :o]
How you parallel "screen time" and "life" is frightening. Like, the less we're plugged in the deader we are to the world.
ReplyDeletethe irony well described, having all the gadgets but disconnected from life. timely reminder to get back into real living. Nice one Grace.
ReplyDeleteStraight to the center of the onion with this one, Grace!
ReplyDeleteYou can't always get what you want, or what you need, to paraphrase The Stones indistinctly. Skin to skin does have its merits and strengths. Made me think, thank you.
ReplyDeletethis is sad. seeing lots of illustrations same as above. well pen :)
ReplyDeleteLost in a world of "make believe". How fitting for we octipi
ReplyDeleteA very original creation capturing the irony of super connection and profound loneliness going hand in hand.
ReplyDeleteI love the "inked" line, especially. We "share" so much now...and yet so little.
ReplyDeleteeverywhere and nowhere
ReplyDeletewow. wow. so true. so clever.
yea the agony of this gadget era...beautifully told!
ReplyDeleteyour every squeak, flashing lights
my screen time, life-
you ate up all my space
chewed pictures, thoughts
and blurted them to friends, foes
anyone - like, love, share ............loved these lines!
Brilliant, Grace! Should be published in The New Yorker ;)
ReplyDeletelove the use of 'inked'...what stays ever awake is a pair of 'needy eyes'...perfect...
ReplyDeleteI do FB from about 2am to 8 or so (+/- the hours I read news media) then touch it not again until the next 2-8am shift. I also take frequent porch smoking breaks. But I love this poem Grace because you reminded me I must dig my flip phone out of my vest and charge it for the first time in 2-3 weeks. Someone may after all want to call it.
ReplyDeleteEverywhere and nowhere baby. Too true Grace. Too true.
ReplyDeleteSo , it makes me wonder if you broke up, and only your poem writing blog remains. Or is it like abused spouse who complains and keeps returning for more. I think that is our usual MO, no?
ReplyDeleteSo many connected this way and that without needed
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to become overwhelmed by all the technology at our fingertips. I say this as I'm typing on my laptop while tethered to my phone, waiting on a message from Wifey, and wondering if I should've taken that call from the headhunter.
ReplyDeleteI like the soft metaphors at the beginning, almost as if you're discussing a new lover during the honeymoon faze of romance. I like how as the poem progressed, the technology became progressively overwhelming until you didn't know where it ended and you began.
Every so true and more so all the time. Nice write.
ReplyDeleteSo à propos for our day and age, and written so whimsically that the point is well taken without being burdensome. Well done, Grace. I always enjoy your poems. ~peace, Jason
ReplyDelete"You ate up all my space." Ah yes -- the ever seductive device with apps -- the ever beckoning FB, email, CNN 24/7 news, I've been in restaurants where mom, dad, and two or three children are out for a "family meal" and every head is down, looking at some device. Ironic that these tools of communication have also almost eliminated meaningful, sustained and face-to-face communication, right? Well penned and great topic for your poem!
ReplyDeletethe motif of octopus reaching out for things is a very salutory motif for modern distractions and greed
ReplyDelete'you ate up all my space
ReplyDeletechewed pictures, thoughts'
an awesome line of poetry. It really says it all, about THOSE relationships.