... some more unique poems from Bill Textworth, with original music: PAGE 2
Zero Tolerance
Okay, now we have your funds,
You paid in full and so the crumbs
of courtesy that you once expected
were history when you elected
to sign the contract, sir.
Just wait your turn till we call,
Read the sign – it's on the wall.
It's not our fault if we can't cope
Computers down, the systems broke.
Zero Tolerance is our rule, sir.
The deal, you see, is that we would
Reduce the service if you should
Make a fuss or worse complain,
So now you lose, as we gain.
Please just keep your cool, sir.
Just wait your turn till we call,
Read the sign – it's on the wall.
It's not our fault if we can't cope
Computers down, the systems broke.
Zero Tolerance is our rule, sir.
We've become so large and slick
And we can use each legal trick,
So if you hate our platitudes,
You must change your attitudes
So sit back and relax, sir.
Just wait your turn till we call,
Read the sign – it's on the wall.
It's not our fault if we can't cope
Computers down, the systems broke.
Zero Tolerance is our rule, sir.
Can't you see I'm really busy,
No time for your petty tizzy.
Don't you moan or cry or yelp,
I'll just ignore your cries for help.
I won't tell you again, sir.
Just wait your turn till we call,
Read the sign – it's on the wall.
It's not our fault if we can't cope
Computers down, the systems broke.
Zero Tolerance is our rule, sir.
Corporate giants use this con,
The store that served you now is gone,
Public service aint no more,
As we're covered by the law.
Come back tomorrow, sir.
Just wait your turn till we call,
Read the sign – it's on the wall.
It's not our fault if we can't cope
Computers down, the systems broke.
Zero Tolerance is our rule, sir.
Zero Tolerance - toe the line,
Intimidation by design,
That notice is saying you
Are now stuck with what we do.
And we don't give a damn, matey.
Use headphones for music – it's SO much better!
Distractions
Start up the car,
Turn the music on,
And turn myself off.
Turn on the TV,
It's only company.
Another hour to be
Empty.
Must we go on
Wasting away?
Searching for anything
To fill each day.
Turn on the phone,
It's my virtual home,
As it calls me to buy it,
I just gotta try it.
Talking on and on,
With my virtual friend,
Keeps me from thinking,
It's nearing the end.
So I go on buying
What I am sold,
Never stop trying,
To do as I'm told.
Distraction – that's our thing,
And together, as we cling,
To what is given, we always miss
The truth behind the world's abyss.
Why can't we see
What we were meant to be?
Creative seekers are not repeaters.
We gotta take action,
To avoid the distraction.
Use headphones for music – it's SO much better!
Ode to AI Videos
*** Management note: This ode was written by Bill while he was trying to use an AI program to create a video for his poem “Rebirth of the Trapped Spirit”. You may conclude that he wasn’t altogether successful. In order to avoid any transgression of what may be considered as acceptable presentation, we have replaced any offensive language with various punctuation marks etc. ***
So here am I with this #$&@ *&#,
*%$@&(*^% *^$@&^* @!!!#$%,
^&*(% and so I )*(&#@#% )()&%$,
With only a *()_)*&^% *^#@ @#$$$@,
I cannot believe *&%^*()^%$#.
Why can’t *^%#%&*((#,
I wish they would @#$^(*(&^%,
&^%$# *&%$$%^with a red hot poker!
&*()&%^%$$^^ *&% (*&^%,
Right up **&^ $%^&#@ &^%$#$%^.
What a waste of &(*_)%$$##%^^ $%%^$#,
*^&%#@!$$%^ *&^%&$ ^%$#$^&,
&^%$$&* that’s the last &*^%#^&,
&^%$#@$%^( (&^ *&%^%,
&^$#@ *&^*(*( &&^% *^%%$$!!!
*** Note from Bill – sorry some of it doesn’t rhyme too well. ***
*** Final management note: It doesn’t surprise us that Bill experienced problems. He has previously said that producing one single image takes between 1 and 2 minutes on his computer. Bearing that in mind, 4 minutes of video at a minimum of 25 frames per second would take an estimated 150 hours! Then allow for the fact that at least 80% of the images created are simply unusable when the AI misinterprets the request…
It would seem best to leave the creation of fantasy videos to those organisations that have a bottomless budget for computing – the government, Hollywood, mainstream news outlets and so on.
However, if anyone can do better at creating this video, we would love to hear from you. ***