Daily Shadows
An Original Speculative Poem
Do you ever feel like you’re being watched? That’s because you are.
If you dropped someone from a century ago into the present digital age, a feeling of claustrophobic paranoia would no doubt quickly envelop that poor soul. Social media platforms are everywhere, ostensibly to connect people and form communities. The drawback is you sacrifice privacy and freedom. Cameras on phones record everything in public and private spaces while legions seek to emerge as the next influencer.
Navigating such an environment can feel like attempting to hide from your shadow while walking in direct sunlight. How soon before you’re walking on eggshells? Always watching everything you say and everything you do. You become driven by a fear that anonymous troublemakers are always watching and listening. These trolls lurk awaiting a chance to pounce, seeking to destroy your life for the sake of drawing extra clicks and subscribers.
My latest poem is dedicated to every introvert living an uncomfortable life under a digital microscope.
Lurking beyond your reach peripheral to your weary eyes. Drawn to your presence buzzing like persistent flies. Fleeing one room to another offers no true escape route. Concealing yourself never works. This phantom seeks you out. Always watching and waiting. Silently noting your actions. Engaging sight, sound, and smell. Openly provoking your reactions. Fixed to you like a shadow. Mirroring every step and word. Building a human-sized cage trapping you inside like a bird.
Did you enjoy this poem? Check out my other poetry in the Strange New Worlds archives.
New Book Hub
I’ve added a new section to the Strange New Worlds homepage to make it easier for readers to find my published works outside this newsletter.
The My Books section contains individual pages for each novel. You can find a book description, direct links for purchase, and Behind the Pages articles ranging from fun facts to character profiles I’ve shared in past newsletters.
Pages for each novella and short story I’ve published through Samak Press will also be added in the near future. Bookmark the My Books section so you never miss out on any of my stories.
