When I have fears that I have ceased to be
I type my name in Google, just to check
I'm not dead yet. Still no obituary,
Then with a few more clicks, the day's a wreck:
Such idle titbits dancing on the screen!
The weather in Llandudno, cut-price cars,
Some invitations verging on obscene,
A Second Life of sub-prime avatars,
Cats in cute poses, holidays from hell -
The choice is infinite, but time is not.
The web's seductive powers can weave a spell
Where sense and sensibility's forgot.
Too easy on its lonely shore to sink
And give up all capacity to think.
(Previously published in The Spectator)