Poem: Put That Phone Away!

Editor's Note: Do you remember when relaxing used to be relaxing, especially for hours at a time? Neither do we. In the current political climate, when a month’s worth of news seems to unfold every day, peeking at one’s phone while dining out or watching baseball can lead to a trip down the briar patch of updates, analyses, information, and disinformation. In 2018, the true trailblazers may be the ones without smartphones. Erika Fine, our poet of the political scene, can relate.

P U T   T H A T   P H O N E   A W A Y   !

I went out to dinner, relaxed, and sat back,

But glanced at my phone and saw “Bombing attack!”

I plopped on my couch — I was weary and tired --

But glanced at my phone and saw “Tillerson fired!”

I went for a walk — it was balmy and sunny --

But glanced at my phone and saw “Stormy got money!”

I went to a bar to hang out and unwind,

But glanced at my phone and saw “Ryan resigned!”

My team was ahead and I got so excited,

But glanced at my phone and saw “Russians indicted!”

I practiced my tennis, a sport I am slow in,

But glanced at my phone and saw “Big raid on Cohen!”

I ordered my latté with milk extra foamy,

But glanced at my phone and saw “New book by Comey!”

I was reading Walt Whitman, though poems often bore me,

But glanced at my phone and saw more news on Stormy!

I threw out my smartphone and bought an old fliptop.

My anxiety’s low and my outlook is tiptop!