synapse lapsed

synapse lapsed

 

 

 

 

in an abandoned house

up to a dusty attic 

lodgers sit quiet

unopened books silently reside

 

volumes of print,

on actual pages,

alien to those on the rest of the block

 

screens of symbols on lighted objects

glow from dark windows

across from the "Condemned" sign

the boards rotting,

the binders crumbling

 

home of the ancient readers

formal language, now foreign

to its own people

 

a gadget rings

a pizza delivers itself to an address

electronic voice says thank you

blinks twice

 

looks across the street,

short circuits with laughter

as the U-Haul is loaded

with strange atrocities

 

thinks to itself,

"what the heck are those things?"

then flashes a few codes

heads for a new block

 

passes several individuals who never look up

faces buried into a screen

they barely notice the robotic car

as it motors into a future

 

they could never imagine

since imagination's dead and buried

in some Land Line "boot hill"

with those weird objects

that came from the attic of the past

from a now torn-down sophistication

 

that is considered a dilapidated

relic of when society

actually had its own brains.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

5/6/16 

Reviews

[James]

It is amazing just how much technology has changed not only society but how we interact with each other. People have lost all ability to observe what's going on around them. The more absorbed we are with our screens the more self-absorbed we become.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

so true, James....thank you for your insights...

j.

[Kirsty Woodward]

Screens are everywhere and it hurts my eyes. This is something I think about daily and you've put all my thoughts into beautiful words. "passes several individuals who never look up". Great, great, great piece, Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words and how you relate, Kirstywood.

j.

[Lyn Anderson]

Uggh. The future painted in bleak. I fear this vision is somewhat likely.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insight, KL...

j.

[Ana B.]

Very thoughtful piece, with somewhat frightful musings....absolutely lovely writing dear Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Ana.
j.

[iand63]

All hail the technological revolution, the promise of a new age of understanding and community, oh how that promise failed. There are still levels here that i feel i have not even began to realise Mr J.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, ian....

j.

[Vatsal Rohilla (account..]

The way things are going on it seems that till the dusk of this century we will have a world where people will be wholly dependent on lifeless scientific creatures, and creativity, emotions and humanity will die out. We see people stuck to their gadgets, gizmos, contraptions and such stuff, but if you have look into their hearts you will discover nothing, but trash. Values are degrading. What people call "progress" will lead to the downfall of mankind. Scientists add to their profiles the inventions of some modern, powerful weapon which can take thousands of lives at once. These weapons, this destructive equipage, will do nothing, but wipe out mankind from this world.

In future, people will be dependent on robots. They will look to save time and save their energy. But, won't dependence on robots make people lethargic, thus, causing lifestyle problems, thus, leading to a cruel fate.

This is a superb poem. Keep writing.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

wow, yes, i am afraid you might be right about all this in future...scares me, it does...thank you, Vatsal...

j.

[Jon Roggie]

I must admit, holding a 1000+ page book is easier on a little electronic device, but I am still reading the book! I remember the stories. I remember story time. I remember watching old movies. I remember spending time in the library.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i remember the same, Jon...
thank you for your words,
j.

[andrew mitchell]

It will always be the past vs today until the past generation is gone. Then we will have robotic things and hollow minds. great stuff jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, andrew.

j.

[Matching Socks]

I really enjoyed this Jacob. I guess because it's so relatable.
I'd like to go back into time to before all these modern comforts.
But only if I were royalty because I would need servants to run my bath and make my meals, clean the house etc. Because we all know men never lifted a finger to help around the house back then. Even now I think. :) Anyway, I'm ashamed to say I am guilty of texting and walking. It's annoyed people on occasion but as I saw pointed out earlier, I have bumped into some nice people. Including handsome men. Sometimes I even stop and let them walk into me on purpose. Oops! In life you must create your own opportunities.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, you must create your own...ha ha...like that...

i have always believed in sharing household responsibilities...my dad showed me that the way he was, even though that was not common with his generation.

thank you for your words...and your story..quite the smile. If i see you on the street texting and walking, not paying attention...i will warn you just before i run into you! :)

j.

j.

[Matching Socks]

: )

[redzone]

you know what is often funny Jacob, walking down the street and watching as people walk toward you, heads down fingers moving rapidly and they have no idea I am standing right in front of them until WHAM they walk into me.. I have met more people this way lately.. some get upset as though I should have gotten out of the way, and then some do say excuse me or even a sorry, good morning... one day I fear that all there will be will be these "smart phones" walking and texting each other as they will have eaten the people who once held them...

there is a lot of technology that is not very good especially those technologies that dehumanize us.. drones and cameras on every corner come to mind...

I enjoyed how you wove this poem Jacob, the ending was indeed powerful, but I also have to say, that for each era we have passed through, I think there were plenty of things that those words would apply to... where were our brains during the ethnic cleansing of the Native peoples who lived here before us?? where were our brains when for more than 200 years we tolerated and excused slavery??? anyway, the point is we have always needed our brains, it just takes us too long before we use them... I'd say we better start and pretty damn quickly...

so Jacob, think you could text me your next poem??? but only as you're walking down the street, I might be the one standing in front of you... ah ha face to face Jacob... lol sorry couldn't resist..

redzone

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sure i'll text you the next poem, when i get a cell phone...and please pardon me for bumping into you...i used to pay attention, really!!!!!!! :))))

thanks Curt...

j.

[redzone]

my my no cell phone... glad you will be one of the uneaten ones Jacob...