I was directed to a poem by Simon Armitage yesterday that was something to do with National Poetry Day. Best to read the text as a poem first before viewing the multimedia version.
https://www.btcom.ll-digital-sandbx1.bt.com/broadband/something-clicked
The idea of “the best version of yourself” stuck in my craw and also the whole piece seems to have completely missed the impact of lockdown on most people. I felt compelled to write a ripost …
Something Snapped
Then something snapped and the workstation groaned
under the weight of the infinite immanent potentials jostling in the wires.
But first the daily catch-up call with the multitasking tele-present
almost-but-not-quite-real crowd of fadingly familiar faces.
Then the routine chores to keep on track
and a single fresh cup of coffee and
more task-work till a lunchtime scene-change blurs into view
Same scene as yesterday,
same solitary plate in the empty kitchen
same serious-but-sensational newsreader and
pseudo-sparring politicians on the radio
But back to it, those teasingly infinite potentials still in the wires
and suddenly school’s out and just-as-quick time to get dinner on
and shepherd the family through till bedtime and then collapse
to refresh the same belching, farting, take-it or leave-it,
one-event, only true version of yourself.
Later I watched the multimedia version of the Simon Armitage poem and realised that it’s all just a promotion for BT Broadband. Rather a disappointing use of the Poet Laureate’s talents.