I was in the city centre the other day
when a woman walking towards me,
mobile phone in hand,
eyes glued to the screen,
scrolling and walking,
walked right into me,
bumped straight into me.
She looked up from her phone
stared at me, like I was in the wrong,
for getting in her way,
for blocking her pavement,
she then side-stepped around me,
eyes back on her phone,
and stropped off down the street.
Shocking, I said, out-loud,
looking around for some support,
for someone to have seen
the incident, to agree and roll their eyes
at the rudeness of some people.
Instead all I saw was people
head bowed, staring at their
mobile phones,
walking and scrolling.
I decided to get away
for an hour or two,
away from the city,
out into the country,
to the green Lancashire hills.
I walked and climbed,
hiked and trekked,
before finally,
breathing hard,
I reached the summit.
In front of me stretched
the wonder of the Lancashire countryside.
On the wooden hill-top bench
a young man was sitting,
mobile phone in hand,
busily tapping away,
oblivious to the rolling green spleandour
all around us.
What are you doing on your phone?
What could be so utterly fascinating?
Why aren\'t you inspired by all this?
I ranted, waving a hand at the scenery.
He looked up and spoke with a smile.
I\'m actually writing a poem about it.