For today’s prompt, write a “we’re being watched poem." Humankind has really created a bunch of, umm, interesting things over the past 150 years or so. Some of it has helped save lives; some of it has helped destroy them; and some of it has helped spy on them, whether through phone taps, infrared vision, drones, online hacking, or surveillance cameras. Write a poem that touches on such things.
Image supplied and credited by Emilia on WordPress
WE ARE BEING WATCHED
By John Yeo
Supposing mind communication took over from speech
Minds could communicate with minds remotely.
Vast distances would shrink at once.
There would be no secrets anywhere.
All information would be open minded
And available by scanning.
There would be no secrets at all.
The thinkers would be open to plagiarism,
Stealing an unexpressed thought instantly.
Before the idea was fully formed.
How can you copyright pre-thoughts.
Sleeping rough under a surveillance camera
Would actually be preferable than in the dark.
Defenceless and open to abusive behaviour
The watchers would always be around to watch.
Turn off the mikes, close down the cameras
Throw the iPone in the bin.
What would be visible to a drone
If you stuck your head in the sand.
They tell me there is a wiretap
Inserted in every head at birth
Thought control is possible now,
Wherever you are living on Earth.
I have a friend who lives in a shell,
He crawls along very, slowly
It is impossible to read his thoughts
Unless you are also mindless.
They are very dangerous entities
Nameless to all in the vicinity
They are always addressed that way?
If We are We, then They are They!
Aren't They?
They ignore the remote control
And tune in by ultra violet light
Communication by colours is beneath
The mind who controls the establishment.
I called you on my iPhone today,
Ten listeners relayed the news
To ten different estate agents.
I am looking for another house.
Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.
By John Yeo
Supposing mind communication took over from speech
Minds could communicate with minds remotely.
Vast distances would shrink at once.
There would be no secrets anywhere.
All information would be open minded
And available by scanning.
There would be no secrets at all.
The thinkers would be open to plagiarism,
Stealing an unexpressed thought instantly.
Before the idea was fully formed.
How can you copyright pre-thoughts.
Sleeping rough under a surveillance camera
Would actually be preferable than in the dark.
Defenceless and open to abusive behaviour
The watchers would always be around to watch.
Turn off the mikes, close down the cameras
Throw the iPone in the bin.
What would be visible to a drone
If you stuck your head in the sand.
They tell me there is a wiretap
Inserted in every head at birth
Thought control is possible now,
Wherever you are living on Earth.
I have a friend who lives in a shell,
He crawls along very, slowly
It is impossible to read his thoughts
Unless you are also mindless.
They are very dangerous entities
Nameless to all in the vicinity
They are always addressed that way?
If We are We, then They are They!
Aren't They?
They ignore the remote control
And tune in by ultra violet light
Communication by colours is beneath
The mind who controls the establishment.
I called you on my iPhone today,
Ten listeners relayed the news
To ten different estate agents.
I am looking for another house.
Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.
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