John Anderson Poet Free verse

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Heads Down, Engaged To Screen, Remote

Tanka
Folk Heads Down in Flocks

waders stoop heads down
feeding uncoupled in flock.
like texters bowing
heads down to worship screen folk
disengaged with here and now

Heads Down, Engaged to Screen, Remote

Like waders at dawn sifting mud
with heads-down stance,
Modern folk in flocks with heads down, peer at screens
With thumbs a-tapping, eyes engaged 
with friends on screen remote
But what of the here and now? 
Those poor folk you are with, are ostracised,
displaced by 'You've got mail',
subplanted by there and then.
It is worrying how screen worship
has become such a priority.
It is infectuous when others all around you do it.
Interuptions to conversations now an accepted interlude,
not seen to be rude, when message calls
with bongs and rings, 
demand heads-down bowing stoop
to worship screens.

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Kevin Shaw August 6, 2017 at 5:44 PM Hi John, Isn't that just the way it is today, Heads down, you have certainly written a quite hard hitting yet amusing poem. I believe George Orwell wrote about a day when we would worship and be called to screens. I enjoyed your poem, kind regards, Kevin

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart July 28, 2017 at 9:05 AM Fine write this! Love the comparison to wading birds. Blows my mind (well not really) that texting while driving has surpassed drinking and driving fatalities. Sigh. xomo!

Dale Gregory Cozart July 27, 2017 at 5:25 PM This is very clever. Almost a reverse Haibun, but with a Tanka. And I agree. I hate cell phones and do not use one.