Life of Liam

The following is a poem inspired by a dream I had a while ago - or, rather, a nightmare. The dream itself was terrifying, and words can barely convey the fear I felt waking up. Here I lie with my family around me. The beeps of the heart monitor becoming less and less frequent. My breathing becomes strained, Chest struggling to cope as if a weight presses down on me. I know what awaits me, and I am at peace with it. Death will come as a relief, The long battle is almost over. It will not be a victory from me this time, But I have said my farewells and am ready. Feeling the darkness set in, My eyes begin to cloud over. I give a last smile to my dearest who squeezes my hand one last time, Trying their best to hold on to that last glimmer of life. Feeling my warmth one last time before my soul is taken. Forming memories, however painful they are. As I prepare for the inevitable, I take one last deep breath in. The smell of the ward is not one I had hoped for, But ...

Welcome to social media, Where likes have become a currency, More likes, more success, more money. The elite stay in the penthouses Built upon a foundation of filters, Held up by beams of likes, egotism and narcissism. In the gutters, Those without the look fail To even reach numbered status, And are instead plagued With the embarrassment of named followers. Less personal has become more successful. Selfies, statuses, updates. Every moment of every life, Recorded for all to see. Time is dying, moments are passing. Apps live and remember for us. Living life through a screen, Experiencing precious moments in binary, Falsifying reality to experience "real life" Those who don't conform don't belong, We are becoming robots of the web, The black widow feeding off our souls. Our addiction fuels hers, An endless cycle, Likely to end in destruction.