# Life Beyond the Screen #

A simple poem that looks at our close but distant bond with smartphones. It shifts between feeling connected and alone, highlighting the moment when digital distractions fade, allowing us to hear our own inner thoughts again.

# Life Beyond the Screen #

A light
in my hand.

Not the sun,
not a flame—
yet I turn to it
again
and again.

It knows my name
through passwords,
remembers me
in fragments.

I scroll—
and the world
keeps happening
without asking
how I feel.

Faces pass.
Voices flicker.
Nothing stays
long enough
to become real.

And still,

in the dark,
I hold it closer
as if it might
understand.

But it does not ache.
It does not wait.
It does not love me back.

It only reflects—

a pair of tired eyes,
searching
for something
unnamed.

So I stop.

For a moment—
just one—

I let the screen go dim.

And in that small,
unlit space,

I hear it—

not a notification,
not a call—

but my own life,
soft, unfinished,
still trying
to reach me.

(Vijay Verma)
www.retiredkalam.com



Categories: kavita

Tags: , , , , , ,

12 replies

  1. Well said. Much as I hate Zombie films, Zombies are real and they surround us, hundreds of people who can not look away from the blue light, even for a second. Addicted, without ever getting a prescription. Happy Monday. Allan

    Liked by 2 people

    • Haha, that’s a sharp observation—and a little uncomfortably true, isn’t it?

      While not quite the movie kind of zombies, that constant pull of the “blue light” does seem to have a way of capturing our attention more than we’d like to admit. It’s a modern habit many of us are quietly wrestling with.

      That said, I suppose awareness is the first step—once we notice it, we can choose to step back, look up, and reconnect with the world around us again.

      Wishing you a mindful and refreshing Monday, Allan 😊

      Liked by 2 people

  2. very nice .

    Liked by 2 people

  3. But let’s face it, can we live without it? So, the balance is all we need instead of complete avoidance. What do you think?

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words—they truly mean a lot.

      I’m really glad the reflection resonated with you. Sometimes it’s those simple, quiet moments that carry the most meaning, and it’s always special to share that feeling with someone who understands it so beautifully.

      Wishing you many such gentle, joy-filled moments ahead 🤍✨

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Overtaken us all

    want it for each call

    scroll scroll scroll

    a giant, yet so small

    🎉🎉🎉

    A beautiful poetic reflection of the blue screen And a wise suggestion Sir

    I

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you for sharing this lovely piece — so simple, yet it captures such a powerful truth. The way you’ve portrayed the “giant, yet so small” truly reflects how deeply the screen has woven itself into our lives. I’m glad the message resonated with you. Sometimes, a few honest lines are enough to awaken a deeper awareness within us.

      Grateful for your poetic reflection and kind words. 🎉

      Liked by 3 people

  5. Great big man. Like the poem and man you ARE CREATIVE with the words. I mean in 2026, phones are replacing the old ways of living such as talking to another person face to face. Well done for crafting this dope poem sir

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for your generous words! I truly appreciate your encouragement. You’ve touched upon something very real — in this fast-moving digital age, we are slowly drifting away from those simple, meaningful face-to-face moments. That thought was very much at the heart of the poem.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Amazing how you eloquently capture the ominous feeling of doomscrolling at night. The reference to a flame we return to time and again gives the imagery of a moth to a flame. We are attracted to the backlight of our phones to our peril. Soon, our sense of self perishes in its empty light.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for this beautifully thoughtful reflection. I love how you connected it to the “moth to a flame” imagery—it captures that quiet pull perfectly. Your insight about the fading sense of self in that empty light is both haunting and deeply true. Grateful for the way you read and felt the piece. 🙏

      Liked by 2 people

Leave a comment