The Silicon Age - By Ong Yi Ying Sage

Written By: Ong Yi Ying Sage

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Ong Yi Ying Sage presents "The Silicon Age," an evocative poem that delves into the complexities of modern life. Submitted to the prestigious Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this piece offers a profound reflection on the intersection of technology and urban existence. The poem vividly captures the essence of contemporary dilemmas, inviting readers to ponder the dependency and isolation that technology can bring.

About the Work

"The Silicon Age" portrays a world gripped by technological dependency, where the silence of a digital glitch feels more daunting than death itself. Sage's use of vivid imagery and rhythmic intensity constructs a haunting scene of urban decay, characterized by a reverence for silicon and the fragility of modern life. The poem's tone is both somber and reflective, urging readers to consider the cost of progress and the longing for connection in a digital age.

the silicon age

Original Submission by Ong Yi Ying Sage

the silicon age

How the city freezes, choked in grey

When comes a single glitch in the matrix

O calamity - dies irae - that dreaded doomsday!

Forsaken yet again, the mercurial gods granting only static

Lock every door, raise your postmodern thurible to the sky and pray

Beseech for the current’s resurgence, on which their souls do subsist

(On that and stale meat, marinated with asbestos as of late)

The cultists revere silicon, for which they would drink arsenic

Drooping from the windows, so petrifying a fall

But what is death in comparison to a silence so raw?

Every concrete wall a sacrament of urban decay

Anointed with soot, gaping wide with glass eyes

As their voluntary prisoners rot within

Gazes fixed with imploration on their divine screens

Saline spills from a crimson eye

As the clouds hang ever more tenebrous outside

The air souplike, carbonated, matters little for those who decompose indoors

Ah - a flicker - a delighted caterwaul

In the climax of ecstasy they gasp limply on unswept floors

The deities have heeded their call, and the divine current has returned

Their phones flash bright blue - O yes, they are living again

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is an esteemed platform celebrating diverse literary talents from around the world. This competition provides writers an opportunity to showcase their creativity and engage with contemporary themes through poetry, short stories, and essays. As part of Hashtag Kalakar's mission, the competition fosters a global community of writers and readers, all united by the power of the written word.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ong Yi Ying Sage for their thought-provoking contribution, "The Silicon Age," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your work enriches the dialogue surrounding technology and modernity, and we are grateful for your participation in this celebrated event.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.