Pokémon NO-GO

I’m playing Pokémon GO

Oh God, how I’m playing it

Taking gyms for Team Instinct

And gathering

Great balls

At Pokémon stops

Rushing after Rattatas

And chasing Charmanders

I’m hip to the Hypnos

Made up with Machops

My Squirtles and Drowzees

Are wild and unruly

Meowth has been sighted

But he’s not yet popped up

I’m wearing sick clothes

I’m walking to hatch eggs

I’m levelling up

Ignoring my children

Wasting my battery

Wasting my time

I’m believing the world is

My phone screen

The odd green grove

Where you catch

Monsters

More real

More interesting

Than the strangeness

Of the twisting apple tree

In the garden over the road

Or the shadow of the cat

On the wall by the church

Or the singing woman on the corner

Of our street

There’s only one thing for it -

Get with real life

And press

Delete