What Watt?

[Hawkman]

Those energy efficient lamps
are so called as they don’t use amps.
Sadly though, the light they give
ain’t bright enough for those who live

in houses where the northern climes
dictate that daylight’s short at times—
like Christmas, when the sun is missed
and day-long gloom just leaves one pissed.

These modern bulbs don’t use much juice
but that’s because they’re not much use;
a hundred Watts may seem a lot,
but then, they’re bright enough to see what’s what.

The things they sell now in the store
require one simply uses more—
they’re candle-dim and strain the eyes,
unless by ten one multiplies.

It’s such a myth about the saving,
just some politician’s raving,
trying to secure the votes
of eco-friendly floating dopes.

[krishna_lit]

the rhyming was well maintained...!! and its a different idea to compare between lamps and bulbs!

[Jerrybaldy]

Ah Mr Hawk. You tapped into a pet hate of mine there too. They do have a plus side this time of year however. They are so bloody dim you don't have to turn them off to admire the Christmas tree lights. Great poem using your signature combo of wit and clever rhyming. Good to see you around again.
P.S you seem to be the sole survivor of the trinity.

[Hawkman]

krishna-lit: many thanks for stopping by to cast an eye across the words. Glad you found the rhyming pleasing, but upon the point your seizing, not really a comparison, but more a means within the theme, to do without the repetition: a must when on this kind of mission. ;)

JB: thanks to you too. Not sure that I've actually survived but my revenant does seem to be haunting the site ;)

Live and be well - H

[YesNo]

Amusing content. In the third stanza, the "but then" breaks the meter. It may not be necessary.

[Haunted]

I feel the same way about these energy efficient bulbs, and even more so when they make Christmas lights out of them. It's one of my pet peeves and I'm reasonably pleased that you so artfully articulated it for us.

[Hawkman]

Y/N: Hi, and thanks for reading. Yes it does over extend the line a bit. I'd be prepared to drop the then. It scans better. Glad you enjoyed it.

What ho, Haunted. Thanks to you too. Artful articulation is my thing, so I'm delighted you enjoy it :D

Live and be well - H

[Delta40]

They're pretty crap but without an alternative what choice do we have? Mine are all yellow now...

[AuntShecky]

If you mean the swirly type bulbs that look like petrified soft-serve ice cream, I detest them too. First of all, if you have a kind of lampshade that fits directly on the bulb, you can't use 'em. Secondly, if they happen to break, they release all kinds of chemical substances that are unhealthy for the environment. (Ironically, aiding the environment is their highly-touted raison d'etre.)

Pretty soon, regular incandescent light bulbs won't be available anymore-- at least on these enlightened shores--because of an act of Congress. They're being phased out.

[Hawkman]

Yes, it seems ironic that all these so called Eco friendly devices, like energy saving lamps which are not only filled with carcinogenic chemicals which require a whole new industry to deal with (that industry is actually little more than a system of exporting the toxic waste to some place of extreme poverty in the third world) but which aren't actually bright enough to see by without eye strain, and which require one uses more to achieve a reasonable degree of illumination, whose cumulative power requirement actually exceeds the draw of a 100W bulb, as wall as costing ten times as much! Not to mention the earth-raping pollution of mining operations to obtain the elements necessary for the batteries they put in hybrid cars, for example. All these products and services merely play on the fears of the general public and serve as a sop to their consciences, whilst at the same time giving various governments an excuse to impose "green taxes" which they then spend on inflated salaries and expense accounts for themselves.

Personally I think revolution is well overdue. Build yourself a guillotine, knock up some tumbrels, man a few barricades and shoot your politicians, bankers and insurance salesmen. Go on, you know you want to. :devil:

Live long and prosper - H

[virtuoso]

Those bulbs are ugly and obscene. They were created by a mad scientist on his sabbatical. It is ironic, and you aptly described it, the lamp shade hides the ugly bulb, then makes the pale stream inadequate, essentially blotting the light waves.

[Hawkman]

Thanks virtuoso. Actually I don't bother with the lampshades, and they're still too dim to see by!

Live and be well - H

[Jack of Hearts]

Nicely done poem about... light bulbs!





J

[Hawkman]

They're merely the symptom :D thanks for reading :)

Live and be well - H

[Nick Capozzoli]

Well, LED light bulb technology is pretty neat. Very energy efficient compared to compact fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.

[Hawkman]

You still need rather a lot of them to produce a light level equivalent to one 100w bulb! Lol.