| I was brushing my teeth when the power went down
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| You kow, you can’t be prepared for that
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| That electric toothbrush just ceased functioning and I didn’t have a clue
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| I tried a manual spin in my mouth, but hell, it was early
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| And my fingers just weren’t fast enough
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| I grabbed the soap — both hands
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| Bit it as if it was a burger
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| But it was disgusting and pointless as the essence of last night’s excesses
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| were still there
|
| Decided on a strong coffee to disguise that lingering taste
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| But of course the coffee machine was dead
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| But sure, I felt kind of pathetic, but I decided to call the housekeeper on my
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| mobile. |
| As I had no idea of how to change a fuse
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| The phone said: «Battery empty, please recharge»
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| Great!
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| It was time to get the hell out of this apartment I punched in the exit code
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| Five, six, seven times. |
| Nothing happened
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| I pounded — Just pounded on that reinforced, heavily-padded, soundproofed Front
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| door of mine
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| And wondered if it was just me
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| Of course it was just me!
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| I found out at around 9pm that I wasn’t alone when the first light went off in
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| the great glass tower across the divide
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| 9pm — Monday night
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| Normally the time to switch off that computer
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| Order in Malay Kofta, samosas, a carton of wine
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| Put the feet up. |
| Read a book
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| I know you’re laughing
|
| But I still firmly believe that technology isn’t everything
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| Instead, I found myself stumbling around on borrowed illumination
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| I found half a packet of crackers left by my last girlfriend a few weeks ago
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| And ate them — slowly
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| Then I just curled up on the couch
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| And of course I slept badly
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| Now I mark the days
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| Much like a castaway on a raft on the open sea
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| Little blue lines on the wall with that antique ball-point pen
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| But it’s drying out now
|
| But I’ve given up the shouting
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| I’ve given up the pummeling because it’s pointless
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| I’ve tried to establish a routine
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| I even tidied up the place with my bare hands
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| But it’s not gonna be long now
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| The last thing I did before the power failed was to command the bank to make
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| all of my regular payments automatically. |
| On an appointed date
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| You see, I didn’t want them to come looking for me
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| I’m reasonably wealthy. |
| I will not be saved by the bill
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| I really hope you appreciate the humour I’m showing at this rather
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| inappropriate moment
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| Lately, I’ve been wondering if any of my networking friends and acquaintances
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| miss me
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| Frankly, I doubt it
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| Sure, I’m decent company
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| I spin the odd, inspired one-liner
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| I’m amusing, but face it — Hardly essential
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| And I know what you’re thinking
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| It looks bad, doesn’t it?
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| But you don’t have to worry
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| Understand that I have accepted my fate
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| None of us — not even you — will go on forever
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| And well, look — I have a shelf packed with books |