Online study –

I hate you, you swine!

It’s no wonder I

Dream of wine!

The site is down again:

“Routine maintenance” they say

As resentful thoughts

In my mind replay

So instead of assignments

I’m composing these lines

For I’ve now screamed at the screen

Too many times

My frustration at technology

Remains unaddressed

I chew on my nails

And the house is a mess

My academic world

Is out of control

Sanity eroded

My brain a black hole

My friends cannot reach me

(The phone constantly engaged)

My life lived by email

Or on discussion board staged

My only love affair

With a computer screen

Contact with humans

Seems a remote dream

Originally written 2006; revised 2019