See Something New

3 and a Half Floppy Horror

Our prompt for the day (optional, as always), asks you to move backwards in time away from such modern contrivances as podcasts. Today, I challenge you to write a poem that features forgotten technology. Maybe it’s a VCR, or a rotary phone. A cassette player or even a radio. If you’re looking for a potential example, check out this poem by Adam Clay, which takes its central metaphor from something that used to stoke fear in the hearts of kids typing term papers, or just trying to play a game of Oregon Trail.

Ah, my very first story
finished at last!
Between computer class
with Miss Smith
teaching us how to type,
others sneaking onto Oregon Trail,
I'm working on my masterpiece!


Remember the home row,
stretch your fingers from there,
my heroine comes alive
as she saves herself from fire-
descend your fingers below,
where the young man hides
from the fire breathing dragon.

Now that you have the basics,
type something fun,
let your fingers take control!
The heroine slays the dragon,
saves the man below;
a role reversal triumphs,
but will history write her?

Okay, class,
please save on your disc.
I hit the dancing disc,
pull it out of the machine,
until tomorrow!

The 11am bell rings-
my favourite class,
let me finish my story!
Please reformat this disc,
the tears roll down my cheek.