Technology of Our Time

Short Stories / Anecdotes / By

Since the power cut every clock in the house was wrong. I know – I thought – I’ll phone the speaking clock. Or TIM as my mother used to call it, which was less incongruous when the voice was male. Nothing could be easier – simply dial 123.

But things had changed. The woman was almost singing at me.

‘You have reached the Time Enquiry Service sponsored by Zedog Digital Instruments. If you have a tone phone press the star button now.’

Done.

‘Welcome to the Time Enquiry Service. If you want information about the Zedog product range, please press 1.’

…

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Not Working

Poems / By

There are few jobs left for the boys,
nobody can relax,
even if some do find work,
we make them pay more tax.

Face the fierceness of cuts ahead,
girls crash glassy ceilings,
bosses say ‘I must let you go’,
no room at all for feelings.

…

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I.E.D.

Poems / By

You’re hiding down there in the dust and the dirt,
A parcel of Helmand, all primed to deliver,
In that split second you burst through the sand,
Searing and ripping your random selection,
Somebody’s future sucked up in your swirl,
So his family soon will be softly informed.

…

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Credit Crunch Villanelle

Poems / By

The cause of all our troubles is the global credit crunch,
We played FTSE with our fortunes, and now we mourn the mess,
We blame it on the bankers for they are a rotten bunch.

No longer can we linger over that cosy client lunch,
We have no choice, we have to change and learn to live on less –
The cause of all our troubles is the global credit crunch. …

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