Internet Dependency

 

 

Can you remember a time

When there was no Internet?

When there were long queues to battle

And patrons were vexed?

 

Especially on paydays

When the queues were extra long

And you took time off from work

Or when lunchtime bound?

 

I remember as a teacher

Early each payday morning

I would be standing outside the bank

Awaiting its opening.

 

On being dispatched

I would quickly head to school

In my attempt to be an example

In not breaking my rule.

 

The rule to be punctual

That I had taught my pupils

Since I felt to be chronically unpunctual

Was also an evil.

 

Do not shoot me down,

That was just how I felt

And regarding people and their time

That’s how I dealt.

 

 

 

But the time did come

When the Internet arrived

And today in most business ventures

Online is the drive.

 

Cheques are moving out

And we do business online

And this saves not only a lot of effort

But also saves time.

 

Less paper and stamps

As letters turn to emails,

And now we chat on WhatsApp, etc.,

Without fail.

 

 

 

We order from overseas

And we pay online

And when everything goes right

Parcels arrive on time.

 

Online text, voice and video

Most of us enjoy,

Not to mention the many gadgets

We now have as toys.

 

Little ones and even adults

Exercise their thumbs

As they play games on the Internet

For their daily runs.

 

 

 

And when Wi-Fi drops out

We are the proverbial fish

That wriggles and squirms around

With a singular wish.

 

Oh, for that water of life

That we call the Internet!

When it is up and running properly

All our needs are met.

 

Since we have at our disposal

The World-Wide-Web,

Books are decreasing alarmingly

As like spiders we’re fed.

 

 

 

Whatever we want to know

We can now turn to AI,

Artificial Intelligence is the bomb

Whether truth or lie.

 

We don’t have to think,

AI can do everything for us

And soon AI will become the god

We believe in and trust.

 

Don’t make light, I adjure you,

Of the preceding verse,

It is surely where we are headed

And for what we thirst. 

 

 

 

It is a dependency

That is becoming more stark

And sometimes I can’t help but feel

It is getting dark.

 

Can you remember a time

When there was no Internet?

Well, there are still long queues online

And patrons are vexed.

 

Stewart Russell © September 29, 2025

 

Owning and Owing

 

 

 

Just an ‘n’ missing…

Not much you would say

But the former determines

The latter’s pay.

 

One owns what he has

The other still owes

And as to when he’ll own it

Only God knows.

 

They work together

Usually one for the other

And the relationship between

Causes one to bother.

 

 

Owning lives in the heights

Sometimes Owing too,

But one owns what he has

While Owing’s rent is due.

 

Owing may get a chance

To own a piece of the rock

But it’ll take him many years

If his hope is not blocked.

 

Just an ‘n’ missing?

That’s what you thought,

Owning is living quite high

But Owing is distraught.

 

Owing makes a move

And gets into politics

But Owning was there before

And has more tricks.

 

 

 

Whereupon

Owing still owes

And when he will get out of it…

Only God knows.

 

He’s a grassroot politician

And there he remains

Except for a few exceptions

Not much does he gain.

 

Re those exceptions,

There may be an insertion

Where the ‘n’ is dropped in

And thus, transformation.

 

This may last

Or the ‘n’ may drop out

And Owning is back to Owing

With even less clout.

 

 

 

Two distinct people

Are Owning and Owing

And in between these two

You and I struggling.

 

Owning and Owing

Last seen in the bank:

One lending, one borrowing,

Therein is their rank.

 

Stewart Russell © September 13, 2021