New Poem: Connected

Today is Earth Day and after a year of lockdowns and restrictions where we saw our planet begin to heal and reclaim its beauty, and after an enormous global virtual event in 2020, i wanted to mark the day in 2021. I know I benefit from taking time out to remember what we have just outside of our windows, and maybe you feel the same.

Connected

A Poem By Simon Clark

Written to coincide with Earth Day, 22nd April 2021

“Every machine has artificial intelligence. And the more advanced a machine gets, the more advanced artificial intelligence gets as well. But, a machine cannot feel what it is doing. It only follows instructions - our instructions - instructions of the humans. So, artificial intelligence will not destroy the world. Our irresponsibility will destroy the world.” - Abhijit Naskar

Silence the notifications and turn off the ringtone,

Take the batteries from the doorbell,

Hide the remote control for your multi-rotor drone.

Unplug the focal television and remove the fuse,

Scissor apart the headphone cable,

Switch off your addiction to 24-hour news.

Shut down the extractor fan and don’t spin the microwave,

Power down the overpriced tablets,

Trim off the pulsation from the electrical shave.

Don’t worry about the text messages that may come through, they’ll have to wait until you choose to answer,

Don’t leap to answer the angry call of a device that hasn’t got a clue of the things you’re trying to achieve,

Ignore the little tune that chimes every time your best friend calls; it’s time to put your foot down now and don’t be it’s little dancer,

You’re pulled from left to right all year long by the incessant bleeping trills; now it’s time for a reprieve.

Open the door to your house and feel the fresh morning air,

See the clouds floating high in the sky,

Watch the sun flaunting, proudly demonstrating its flair.

Lay nude on the grass and feel how it caresses your form,

The cool dew trickling along your spine,

Beautiful nature ever since the day it was born.

Once you experience the wonder of a bird in flight,

The grace of a fox as it scampers,

You will want to celebrate our Earth both day and night.

© Simon Clark 2021