the light switch flicks on

to bathe me in light

and will equally switch off

to plunge me into darkness

always obedient

never judgmental

totally dependable

the light switch never lets me down

patiently waiting

happy in either state

non discriminatory

welcomes anybody to operate it

then came the smart switch

voice operated by Alexa

void of human touch

this switch has a brain

to control its actions

but brains can be unreliable

they don’t always hear what is actually said

Alexa turn on the bedroom light I command

I don’t know that skill she answers

I tell her she is not so smart

she thanks me for the feedback

I start to curse Alexa

as she gives me really smart answers

but the light stays off

in desperation I unplug the smart switch 

revert to manual control

the light switch lives again

forgiving my foray into the smart world

obeying every flick of my finger

without ever answering back

smarter than a smart switch

I love my light switch