Constant Companion

Let me tell you about the day when
I took my phone for a walk.
I had some questions.

When out and about
did it, my phone
take responsibility for where we were going,
for why we were going,
even if it could note the most advantageous route,
whether to walk, run, drive or bus it:
did it, my phone
look for obstacles in our path,
for signs of change in the populace,
for conversation pieces for future use:
did it, my phone
even momentarily consider
whether I was left-handed or right
for a correct sensible hold
during those unwanted, unwarranted interruptions
to our sojourn.

I needed to ask
why it, my phone
never left me alone,
wanted my whole attention
all-the-time,
thought it ran me
through all its contrivances,
never allowing I might go off on my own,
never (ever) granted I could live
without it, my phone:
always with the riposte,
“you can’t live without me.”

Phil Saunders has been based in Adelaide since his teens, with sojourns in Melbourne, Christchurch and Sydney. Writing has been at the core of his professional and personal life as a script writer, copywriter, policy officer, magazine and report editor, and poet. He has been a regular contributor to InDaily Poet’s Corner during 2020. His work has been published in magazines, online journals and online strings, and played on ABC radio. He enjoys the challenge of performance at open-mike events and with friends.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.