singing quietly
in my own backyard
And pausing to listen.
Because it is a small world, after all,
and the internet keeps making it smaller.
Social media becomes a too-crowded room
where everybody’s in everybody’s business,
and three square meals of outrage
are served every day.
For dessert we have your choice:
a call to arms, a call for slander,
a call to harm.
The world is full of terrible things,
foul injustice,
heartbreaking stories of inhumanity.
Mankind is flawed and we want perfection,
or at least the appearance of it on our screen.
We want everything our way,
the only way, the best way,
and tout this using words
from the list we’re allowed to say.
Celebrity rules and we feed it with our frenzy.
The throng and the masses have all the answers
and nothing ever changes.
In the minds of the mob,
silent observation becomes the same as cowardice.
Working behind the scenes
is seen as indifference.
Not speaking out, even if you agree,
makes you less than those who do.
Yet if you speak out and say the wrong thing,
you will be thrashed or hunted or publicly shamed
with a virtual scarlet letter.
.
Hush now.
.
Learn.
.
Live.
.
Listen.
.
The answers always lie
.
between the lines.
.
.
.
July 30th, 2015 at 9:10 am
I like the contrast between the short, calming, unhurried final lines, the whiteness on the page/screen and the whirling, swirling, long lines of the mad chatter of the previous lines.
July 30th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
Thank you so much for your words here that ring true in my quiet heart and for this wonderful image that also helps.
July 30th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
three square meals of outrage. perfect. perfect. the whole of this is perfect and true. you got guts.
July 30th, 2015 at 6:48 pm
To some of us, your quiet song in the garden can be heard above the frenzy.
July 30th, 2015 at 8:02 pm
There is a different pace to be had for those willing to embrace it. This is why i got off social media, and turned away from my name for the many people that knew me. I would rather a small group I know more than a couple hundred I know less. And I can say what i want and not care. but listen more.
July 30th, 2015 at 8:31 pm
From “hush now” down is my favorite section. The last two lines are really smart.
August 4th, 2015 at 4:32 pm
You say what so many, including myself, are thinking. Very well put and so very true.
August 9th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
I too wonder if the answers always lie ~