Urban Android

We commute under Wi-Fi clouds,
walk circuit board pavements
to our jobs
in cities that spy every corner.

Cameras zoom in,
can read print on our morning newspapers
from space. They know what we ate
for breakfast.

Minutes scroll down information feeds,
every word is saved, every mistake logged
for future reference.

And our blood vessels are fibre optic,
hearts pump with text.

Human essence is downloaded
to online prisons, soon even our dreams
will be hard-wired

directly to a command centre.

©  Barry Woods

They see you: Stores using mannequins with hidden cameras 

Barry Woods studied creative writing with the Writers Bureau, Manchester. Appin Press published his first collection, Hidden Picture, in 2010.

Anti Privacy

Monitoring powers and snooping laws
spying dressed up in an official name
a data bill riddled with flaws
society with no rights to claim

Civil liberties bound up in red tape
privacy becomes a thing of the past
heading towards a big brother state
how long will the madness last?

We are doing this to protect you they say
crime is on the rise
the Home Secretary paves the way
CCTV, the Watcher's eyes

Whilst out in the public view
be careful how you act
cameras from all angles filming you
anti-terrorist groups are keeping track

© Ricardo Walcott

Councils 'must have' monitoring powers

I am returning to the poetry scene after years of experiencing life. Now ready to create once more, as I love the power of words!