Note: The author reports that this poem has been selected for inclusion in a book of 47 of her poems to be published by Lapwing Publications.

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

Why do I
Wake up
Every morning
And rush to my computer,
Plug it in
And wait for ages
For Google to appear,
So that I
Can type in
HOROSCOPES
And read
What they predict 
For me
Today?

Why do I
Take some comfort 
And strength
From such
Obscure
Nebulous
Statements?

Why do I
Spend my day
Watching the hours
Slip by,
Thinking about
Hope being
A good breakfast
But a poor supper?

Why do I
End my day
The same as ever,
Trying to fit my day
And life
And being
Into what it said
In my
HOROSCOPE?

Why do I 
Go to bed,
Able to sleep, 
Because 
Of the
Happy prospect
That tomorrow
I can get up
And plug in my computer
And wait for ages
For Google to appear
So that I
Can type in
HOROSCOPES
And read
What they predict 
For me
Today?

by Sharon Lansbury

Email: sjlansbury@ntlworld.com