I Put Down My Book

    
I was sitting reading when    
I heard a ‘big bang’ outside my house.    
I thought  a car had crashed - but no    
   
it was just the beginning of the universe    
and it expanded quickly through my kitchen window    
bringing with it the future - more big bangs    
   
as when bombs explode with strange concepts    
like ‘collateral damage’ and ‘friendly fire’    
plus a host of enslaving horrors like    
   
science, religion, bureaucracy and money-as-debt.    
Milli-seconds later came a wall of toxic chemicals    
polluting my air, water and food. Then someone    
   
knocked on the door declaring they had to    
change my old electricity meter for a ‘smart’ one.    
I didn’t want it but had no choice in the matter.    
   
I put down my book - Orwell’s 1984 - thought about    
true love casting out fear - then went and visited my    
neighbour, newly coming to terms with alzheimer’s    
   
and made him a cup of tea. His wife was grateful.