Mike O’Brien

Have penguin started doing eggs now, as well as paperback books and chocolate biscuits?

Everyone is - the world over!

You must move - or surround yourself with friends somehow. It must be like lockdown for you - worse.

I had no idea of the magnitude of that number

Just looked at populations. That’s a vast city.

That’s a real shame Eric. Have you just moved there?

Ahh vey well done. You as Attenborough as watcher!

I’m imagining that he must have been quite a young dad. Still at that stage of awkwardness with his own dad?

Ohh crikey. That’s an awful situation. What possesses some people?

Eye contact with zoo animals is always memorable. The most disturbing example that I experienced involved a wanking panda. Your story is much more poignant.

Ahhh. I met an alcoholic friend of mine sitting drinking outside a supermarket once. He asked me to join him. I felt obliged. I sat and had a lager with him. Your poem reminds me of our conversation that day.

Haha - a Lovely story.

it really is good Julian.

There is no escaping his gaze Not in the locked lavatory Nor the space under the stairs No hiding behind mother’s skirts Or amongst a crowd of pals Each of them is as exposed as you are He sees you when you’re sleeping His dispassionate, calculating eye Regarding your unconscious form He knows when you’re awake No point in pretending Behind deliberate slow breathing And tightly shut eyes Your body is held still and silent in vain He knows if you’ve been bad or good Probing your very thoughts Reading every guilty twitch on your face Or using some supernatural ability To see into your mind Your heart Your soul There’s no avoiding him You are an open book He’s writing a list He’s checking it Twice You must learn his moral code Anticipate the flavour of his judgement And be good for goodness sake

Another vintage week on #PoemsAbout with #BeingWatched provoking a wealth of quality responses. Just scrolling them is like reading a great little anthology.
Here's my contribution...

Thats a really nice piece David. A reat contrast between the wonder of life and the wonder of art.

thats a very interesting take on our digital world. one to think about. Thank you

Very poignant Jim. I can feel that. And, in my case, the adolescent that stands between me and the boy

the blade and the soft circle - great images

haha... Love the crazy hall of mirrors, Esher effect Paul. intriguing

That is one that will bear a few readings. I like the thought provoking quality. Bookmarked!

Quite right too!

Crikey. I’m going offline!!

Lovely -and a mystery ending too!

Nice turn!

Whoa - autobiographical ?

Nice grim and gothic. And twa corbies was one of my favourites when I was at school.

Wow. That is so well done. Depths of meaning and hidden levels! Love it.

Childhood fears and nightmares are so intense. This is a very frightening evocation of them.

Cor blimey. Chilling.

A Sparrowhawk clutching the remains unfortunate recently deceased pigeon

Wow. Nature red in tooth and claw. Thanks for the picture too. Reminds me of what I saw in my garden a couple of years back.