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.
-
Author:
Tom Dylan (
Offline) - Published: January 24th, 2024 07:12
- Comment from author about the poem: This poem was inspired by a couple of things, firstly, someone did actually bump right into me while walking on their phone, and glared at me, and also by the fact that people like me use their phones for things like writing stories and poems and things other than social media.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 13
- User favorite of this poem: Accidental Poet.
Offline)
Comments7
Ahh, phone never without hand! lol.
The ending of your poem lifted me. I am baffled by the army of people with their heads buried in their phones as they go about their business. All that treasure around them and they miss it. A topical write. Have a lovely day.
Thanks Cassie. I see people all over, at work, on the street, walking along staring at their phone. Seems really strange to me. Fair enough if you're at home with nothing to do, but to walk down the street just seems bizarre.
But I was at a poetry reading earlier this month and people were reciting what they'd written on their phones, I thought, now THAT'S a more productive use for their mobile phones! 🙂
I would have done the same thing. I too see people glued to their phones while doing something else. Yes, maybe they're multitasking, but surfing the internet media can always wait till later. I even see people on their phones while driving the car. Like safety is of no concern? I once saw a bumper sticker that read, "Put the cell phone DOWN and DRIVE the car! Great write Tom. 👍
Thanks a lot, AP. Yes, I know parents who take their kids to school, scrolling on their phones. It just seems bizarre to me. Maybe I'm getting old. But I was at a poetry reading and a lot of people read from their phones. That seemed a really cool way to use your phone. 🙂
lol oh dear a sign of the ugly cell phone invasion era . I am only in my late 40's however I truly dislike what they have done in society and even worse what my generation is letting their own children become. Good to know these type things don't just happen to me 😂
I'm also in my late 40's but am a bit of a technophobe. 🙂 Thanks for your comments, Teddy. Glad it's not just me. Cheers, Tom.
Great work Tom, inspiration comes from everywhere.
Thanks, Thomas. Appreciated.
I encounter these zombies every day. I alter my line of travel slightly but at about an 80% success rate do manage to bump the shoulder without pause.
I really cannot understand why idiots wish to cut themselves off from the rest of the street. In some of the streets I've travelled in a long life, 360 degree awareness was hardly enough.....
New breed of human evolves with different means of communication in person to person interaction?
Timely write, Tom.
Thanks a lot for your comments, Dave. Appreciated.
I do that quite often when inspiration finds me minus my note pad .. I still prefer the old way tho' .. and penned one of my longest ever scribbles in Oswaldtwistle while visiting my wife's aunties Mattie & Elsie .. so long ago now .. but remember it like yesterday .. I also had some fella ask what I was writing ..
Yeah I prefer the old way, Neville. I often make notes on my phone for stories or poems, then write by hand in my notepads, and then finally type up on the computer, each draft becoming slightly different. But, yeah, at the start of January, I was at a poetry reading and most of the young ones were reading from their phones. I thought it was good that they were using their phones in that way.
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