Australian Poetry - Oddities: A Dial-Up Swan Song

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By AuraGem

Cobwebbing


Lacework

Communication break up? break down? break in?

Remember the days when dial-up was young

And the world basked in the new internet sun

The old raucous schoolyard

Became a room

Of marble faces

And cold screens

And communication was as close

As 3 hour linking cells of a clicking keyboard

Dial-up is a museum piece

But not a collector's item

It is an antique

But not valuable

It is a memory

But not memorable

Wireless, the new guru, guarantees

Endless, perfect silence

Just in case you've forgotten how dial-up sounds, here's a cute reminder!


If you would like your poetry to have more of a voice on the internet stage, check this out!

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Iðunn profile image

Iðunn  says:
2 years ago

bravo, excellent social commentary on the detrimental effects of increased technology. well done.

AuraGem profile image

AuraGem  says:
2 years ago

You are always first to reply Lounn! I get to the point I go looking for your comments! LOL!

Thank you again as always

Smiles and Light

Kenny Wordsmith profile image

Kenny Wordsmith  says:
2 years ago

What music dial up made, and how anxious we were to get connected! Yes, I don't miss it, and I must learn to be grateful for 24 hours unlimited connection! In blessed silence, too!

Cobwebbing? lol! 

 

AuraGem profile image

AuraGem  says:
2 years ago

lol Kenny! I am hoping that comment means that you like it!

Kenny Wordsmith profile image

Kenny Wordsmith  says:
2 years ago

I like the elegy, Gemma, but Iðunn's comment went over my little head. 

I thought you came to bury dial-up not praise it? Iðunn?

Iðunn profile image

Iðunn  says:
2 years ago

well, aura wrote it, but I read it with my own slant I suppose.  it is my opinion she is saying technology seems to be offering closer communication, but we are losing something too - in person human interaction.

the 'new' closeness is perhaps semi-illusory and comes with a cost.

MrMarmalade profile image

MrMarmalade  says:
2 years ago

Bury it for ever, the time I have sat and waited for something to happen. It is like sitting at the red traffic lights. I literally drive another km to miss them. Probably frustration for waiting for dial up.

thank you for the burial

AuraGem profile image

AuraGem  says:
2 years ago

LOL! Love the stir I have created!

Lounn - You are right

Kenny - You are right

I was trying to show the paradox of the new wireless connection. It is better than dial-up but....

MrM - Thank you for the human insight! I always felt with dial-up I was honing in to the buzz of a rather active bee hive! Scarey!

Rudra profile image

Rudra  says:
2 years ago

I remember the old dialup services, waiting for pages to load.

AuraGem profile image

AuraGem  says:
2 years ago

Yes Rudra - And the sheer delight of being cut off mid load! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! LOL!

compu-smart profile image

compu-smart  says:
2 years ago

Dial up......... the world wide wait!

Kenny Wordsmith profile image

Kenny Wordsmith  says:
2 years ago

Dear Iðunn, I interact with people face to face, but if were not for technology, I wouldn't have met all these beautiful hubbers, even if it's only virtually. It seems to be the next best thing!

I am happy little dial-up has grown up to this superbaby!

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
2 years ago

I love the pictures and words very much. Dial-up seems so ancient, does it not? Like creaking rotting wires in an old building ready to fall.

Iðunn profile image

Iðunn  says:
2 years ago

kenny, if you ever luck into interacting with a sociopath in mulitple aliases, the charm of online interaction may become a bit less delightful for you.

I was so naive when I started visiting the internet.  I assumed that like myself, everyone was just people and you could find fun and interesting friends online.  I still think it's possible but I assure you my eyes are now wide open and I'm aware that the internet is also a particularly useful medium for mentally unbalanced pedators because of the anonymity factor. 

Kenny Wordsmith profile image

Kenny Wordsmith  says:
2 years ago

Yes, I agree. But I wouldn't have met you in cyberspace, would I, if not for technology? I guess, like you learnt the hard way, like being streetsmart, the rest of us have to be cybersmart, too.

Iðunn profile image

Iðunn  says:
2 years ago

yeah, that's true too.

it would just be much easier if everyone was nice or at the least nondestructive though. you know what they say about wishes though. :p

AuraGem profile image

AuraGem  says:
2 years ago

Smiling here at the stir this hub has created!

Patty - Thank you for the lovely comments.

lounn and Kenny - cyberspace is simply the raw earth street in a parallel atmosphere. Some streets are good, some bad. By trial and error, by developing our "web intuitives", we learn "cobweb smartness".

Smiles and Light

THE SOPHIST profile image

THE SOPHIST  says:
2 years ago

mesmerized! simple but not simplistic... you have captured the angst of many like me who struggle with alienation that technology breeds...

AuraGem profile image

AuraGem  says:
2 years ago

Thank you for your comment sophist! I am so glad you didn't just see it as a simple musing. It does have a couple of subtle layers. (Or intended to have "a little extra" paradox!)

Smiles and Light

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