Slave to the Machine

©

Slave to the Machine


I am bent
Cords around my neck
Plugged in
Hearing only
What you want me to hear
Connected
Wrists locked to keyboard
Fingers working
Pressing buttons
Over and over again
Forward and back
Eyes unfocused
Dim lights of screens
Monitor me
I have become part 
Of the technology
That uses me
Someone
Pull the plug
I will no longer be
A slave to the machine


Words: ©2019LCR
Image: CCO
Submitted to: Poets United - Televised

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Comments

  1. Sherry Blue Sky14 August 2019 at 10:45

    As i lived in times before tv's and computers, on which i now depend, this poem really speaks to me.

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    Replies
    1. Lori14 August 2019 at 10:52

      I went from tv, to computer, to laptop, to a phone that fits in my pocket. I don't go anywhere without being connected. Seems you now need to make a conscious choice to disconnect yourself. And I definitely need to take breaks every now and then.

      Delete
  2. Sumana Roy14 August 2019 at 12:02

    "Hearing only
    What you want me to hear"...Ha, this is modern times. But there are people who know how to disconnect. A good one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. tonispencer14 August 2019 at 15:15

    I allow myself so much time on the computer to check in on poetry, this includes the phone too. I don't watch TV except for a few cooking shows and on FB I tend to follow the dog and cat pages and a few choice people. Disconnect! Unslave yourself!

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    Replies
    1. Lori14 August 2019 at 16:52

      It's amazing how much time I am able to waste online! Seems I'm always happier after I take time to disconnect from the world for awhile.

      Delete
  4. Rosemary Nissen-Wade14 August 2019 at 16:55

    Ooh, wonderfully robotic images you managed to create in my mind with this cautionary tale.

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    Replies
    1. Lori14 August 2019 at 17:20

      Thank you! Now I'm thinking about the movie Metropolis (1927).

      Delete
  5. Old Egg14 August 2019 at 20:44

    Even if others think we are different we should all walk our own path and enjoy our lives and never regret that we did it our way.

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  6. Jim15 August 2019 at 01:05

    Right on, Lori.
    Slave to the TV, slave to the cell, internet, email, and to what be next. Break the cord but then there's the Warranty .
    ..

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    Replies
    1. Lori15 August 2019 at 09:21

      I won't even mention the number of times I've had to replace my headphones. They are the shackles I wear.

      Delete
  7. Jae Rose15 August 2019 at 08:14

    It pays to be able to unplug ourselves. The world can feel too invasive at times

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    Replies
    1. Lori15 August 2019 at 09:23

      It certainly can! And yet, despite all the connections we have, we can still feel totally disconnected because there is a screen between us and them. You need to disconnect to really connect again!

      Delete
  8. Kim M. Russell15 August 2019 at 09:50

    A scary nightmare, Lori, so well evoked - and it's already here!

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  9. purplepeninportland.com16 August 2019 at 20:43

    We really need those disconnects to survive.

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  10. rallentanda16 August 2019 at 21:48

    My phone is never on.I put it on when I need to make a call. I am told so often that I should keep my phone on. Evidently is is very unusual not to be available at all times. Good poem. The world is in big trouble with this techno dependency. Very very unhealthy.

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  11. Vivian Zems17 August 2019 at 13:51

    We're all slaves to the machine here. Who will help us??? I shall leave you and continue with my task of endless blogging! (LOL)

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    Replies
    1. Lori17 August 2019 at 18:30

      Lol! I hear ya! *she says as she types furiously at her keyboard.

      Delete

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