The Modern Siren, a poem

It calls

Softly

Insidiously

Gently pushing

It’s determined way

Into your conscious thought

Subtly it comandeers

Expropriates

Distracts

It’s visuals

enticing

It’s reality

unreal

Blurring edges

Softening hard lines

It takes over

No struggle required

Everything laid on

Sound

Optics

No effort needed

For the perfect

3-D experience

So easily

We succumb

To the siren song

Of the computer

By Robbie Cheadle

Siren Promotional Poster
Picture credit: https://releasedate.me/siren/

Published by robbiesinspiration

Robbie and Michael Cheadle are co-authors of the Sir Chocolate series of books. We both like to write and bake.

83 thoughts on “The Modern Siren, a poem”

      1. Very true, Robbie. These past months of Covid19 have only reinforced our dependency on computers. Our mask mandate is back just as the school year is beginning. And starting on September 13, 2021 we need a vaccine passport to access services like restaurants, museums, etc. We live in interesting times. By the way, I am looking into the Divine Comedy and came upon this quote: “Into the eternal darkness, into fire and into ice.” I am reminded of Robert Frost’s poem (see below). I have a feeling that Robert gave a nod to Dante Alighieri.

        FIRE & ICE
        BY ROBERT FROST
        Some say the world will end in fire,
        Some say in ice.
        From what I’ve tasted of desire
        I hold with those who favor fire.
        But if it had to perish twice,
        I think I know enough of hate
        To say that for destruction ice
        Is also great
        And would suffice.

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      2. HI Rebecca, thank you for sharing that quote and poem. I am fascinated by the fact that Dante uses ice for the severest punishments. I personally, do not like cold. Cold is worse for me than heat, although in this context, both are quite horrible. I am really loving Inferno. I am reading with much greater care and interest this time around. If you want a short overview. I recommend the BBC audiobook. It is very well done. I listed to it first to get the story back in my head.

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  18. The tempo of the poem matches the actions of waking up to the sound of the alarm. ‘Blurring edges, softening hard lines,’ kind of matched me opening one eye and then the second :). Fortunately, I don’t use an alarm to wake up so there’s no siren for me.

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    1. Hi Smitha, I am delighted you picked up on the rhythm of this poem. That makes me smile. You are very lucky not to wake to an alarm. I get up early every day. Mon to Fri to blog before work and on Sat and Sun to write before my family gets up at 8.30am.

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  23. It is interesting how ‘modern convivences’ have evolved – almost like an extra limb. I list these items; first the clock or watch; having to know and be controlled by time, then the radio, TV, even the Telephone… and now smart phones are all those things including being a computer – all in one. Often a cruel siren too.

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  24. well done Robbie with the flow and structure of this poem!
    and content is so relevant and shows your wisdom again!
    also – it is not the young who are at risk – perhaps more so and some more than others
    but all humans can get sucked in

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      1. yes – it is all about dopamine hits and the rewards and all that!
        so let us all keep the conversations going as we all find what we need at different seasons
        i know for me what helps – when or if i feel the black hole is swallowing me – or the siren calls – i fast!
        a fast seems to break strongholds but really just helps me to reset

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  25. Robbie, I’ve decided that there are two sets of times in our universe, the normal every day one and then that when on the computer! Yes, it’s a Siren indeed and so many of us falling for its song!

    After intense time on the computer earlier this year I found myself just needing a break. It was refreshing and I’m coming back with a new attitude – where I’m the boss!😀

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    1. Hi Annika, I think the last 18 months of Covid have ramped up people’s computer usage a lot. Social media and the ability to communicate with family and others using a computer has been a great boon, but it does have its downside.

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    1. Hi Michael, I think we need balance in our lives. Obsessions with anything are not healthy and I think a lot of people have become absorbed with computers and devices to a point where their families and friends suffer.

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    1. Hi Olga, the computer/iphone/ipad has its place in our modern lives and has been a marvelous instrument for helping us keep in contact with others during the lockdowns. Unfortunately, it tends to take over our lives and that is not a good thing.

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