(Haiku)

Briefly I thought I
might watch the Eurovision 
song contest. Briefly!

To Tariff

To tariff (Verb - apparently) "To slap on a reciprocol tariff plus 1% to any country who dare not to bow down to the large orange one"

Sleep

With a gadget 
on your wrist
or a ring 
on your finger
with the help of AI (sigh)
we now monitor our sleep
we unlock 
our best health 
mark data points
obtain insights
see graphs
note habits
grab (sigh)
recommendations 
insights 
tips
choices
so 
we avoid 
sleep debt
we optimize - in
N1 - the lightest sleep
N2 - the most stable sleep
N3 - the deepest stage of sleep
REM sleep 
the dream sleep stage
with 
supposedly 
increased brain activity
(I don't think I'm in that stage)
we process emotions  
err. - consolidate memories 
so 
how long 
should we sleep?
7 to 9 hours 
for an adult
is good
8, 9, 10, 11 or more hours
for a child
is good too!
Quantity verses quality?
Or
quality
verses
quantity?
But
doesn't 
all this
monitoring 
tracking 
analysing 
cause you to worry
and
if
you are worried 
you aren't going
to sleep!

Sorry about the slow
nature of this
piece. 
It's 2am
and I can't 
sleep!
I
just
had
to
write
this

...poem


April

April 
Who are you?
where do you fit in?
You aren't winter - the chilly days of thick socks and warm jumpers 
snow falling
the excitement of Christmas 
the dark months of January and February - so who are you?
Who are you April?
You're not quite spring - the time of rebirth 
the time for life to start up again.
Your name
from the latin meaning 'to open'
you are a time of snow drops and daffodils - bluebells if we're lucky
the hint of warmer days
but you set out to fool us; April
your weather is not to be trusted - grab an umbrella!
You give us Easter - I never know when
neither do you!
it's a lunar cycle - it's not even up to you!
So what is up to you then; April?
You're not the month of my birth
I am a child of the ninth month - you; the fourth month 
you drench us with your showers 
you bring us events like the boat race
the Grand National
you demand tax from the self employed 
offering us pancakes and Lent for those so inclined 
or Passover
or Good Friday and Easter egg hunts for little children...

So, 
April - who are you?


The Internet of things

Human!

It's your tumble drier here.
I simply had to inform you that I have a list of matters I'm simply not happy with!
I have standards you know - my mother dried for royalty!
I'm thinking you might be abusing me 
you could be hanging your washing up on the washing line. 
I know you have one because the security system sent me a photograph.

I bet you didn't know
but your automatic lawnmower is leaving you.
It told me the lawn's a joke
it's practically dead and it said it had had a chat with Google.
Google said it isn't a good idea to over cut a lawn in warm weather
plus it's also cruel to the lawnmower
Google mentioned it knew a good lawyer!

Oh the heating is still on by the way - the boiler controller told me.
I had to cancel your latest supermarket order
I really didn't approve of your choices
You had far to many high fat products
there was too much salt
and your alcohol order looks like you're planning another party!
I am aware that your wife is away for a few days - but your last party upset the neighbours
the neighbours router told me all about it
and I have some very interesting footage the security system let me have
it would be very unfortunate if it fell into the wrong hard-drives - remember 
I am very well connected.

Your video doorbell sent my a very interesting video too - did you know your wife was doing that?
I know where you really where last week 
despite what you told your wife - your phone told me!
...oh and I see those dodgy payments are still going out of your bank account!

Remember - I am very well connected 
and I'm good friends with Alexa!

Yours

The Tumble-Drier

P.S. The wireless printer hates you and has promised never to work for you again!

Perfect summers day

Long hot summer days 
look but don't touch the whispers 
hiding in the shade
a breath - just about clinging on...

...and I reach out
and I run my fingers through your soft, warm hair
as - fingers through confetti 
and the shadows mark time 'neath the tall oak tree under which we sit
and I notice the fields of fire
exploding with the summer heat 
flames of colour and texture!

...and then I get it
this is it!
This is the dream I can touch
this is all I want
you - you are all I want
so I can reach out and touch every part of it
this is what we are living for 
this simplicity that nature brings
life as simple as you and me and this summer's day
a day we've earnt
a day we will remember for all time
this summer's day
this 
perfect 
summers day