RIP Real World

Cherry

By Jane Hyphen

Fri, 26 Sep 2025
  • 229 reads
9 comments
 

 

A real planet,

really spinning, in nothing

but the pure dust of our universe.

We lived in the real world.

 

We didn’t really understand it

and that was what..

really made it so wondrous.

Perhaps we took it for granted…

 

‘Wait until you live in the real world!’

That’s what they said,

to scare us, perhaps..

But there wasn’t really a choice.

 

The real world had edges,

reality held us in its jaws;

biting when we needed biting

and when we didn’t.

 

Nature had a real grip on us.

Real summers and real winters.

We really felt the weather on our skin

and real hunger in our bellies.

 

Reality didn’t leave gaps.

Our days were uncomfortably full.

There was no real temptation

to stuff ourselves with faux fulfillment.

 

We spent our days in real time.

At night we were really tired,

our dreams were sprung only

from the sprinkles of real events.

 

The struggle was real.

Life was hard but we had real hope,

We worked in real jobs but most of all

- there was a real chance. 

 

The real world was a scary place

but not really as frightening

as the reality of living a life

when nothing really matters.

 

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hear! Hear! Jane, I hear you so well, and this poem absolutely resonated with my feelings. yes

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you Jenny. I don't want all this fakery. It's so unsatisfying isn't it. AI world is not the one I want to live in!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

The last two lines are the illusion promulgated for 'freedom' from responsibility, but leading to disillusionment and depression. There is purpose, there is usefulness, there is satisfaction, though always frustration  and weariness in the present real world! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

There is something about truth and hard work, an honest days work, a bit of hardship perhaps and getting outside equals good sleep and the habits which keep your mind healthy. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Well said Jane

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you Insert.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Oh Jane, this is BRILLIANT! It seems as if we are making reality more bleak in order to drive everyone into the virtual world. There was a trailer on the radio that AI will be able to let us understand animals. Do we really want to - they are not going to have anything good to say about us. I really love this poem

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Hi Di. Bleak is the perfect word for it. I wonder if it really will allow us to understand animals though, we don't even understand other humans much of the time even when we're speaking the same language. I don't want to live in a virtual world, even if I lived for a thousand years I wouldn't get to see all of this one. Thank you for reading Di and sharing your thoughts.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I guess it's about senses, isn't it? No matter how complex AI becomes it will never have those, to the same degree as we can. When CGI came out I wondered if it might replace forests etc but you can ALWAYS tell real trees, real animals. If ever we can't, or don't care, we are truly lost. I am so glad you and Ewan have tackled this so passionately, I have given up after garbling round the subject lots of times. Have you heard of Cyberpunk? My son has been telling me about it, one of the ideas is that people have to be augmented in order to be allowed to work, but once you have implants in your brain it is impossible o stop adverts going into your thoughts