Our online age
obsessed with
cash for clicks,
it’s too tempting
to abandon integrity
for influence
manipulating
anger, anxiety, envy
manufacturing
outrage, spite, fear
misrepresenting
reality, joy, truth
In my domain
of narrow
influence
I hope
to leave
an online footprint
leading to
kindness, compassion, truth
When Truth approached
My front porch
I turned down
Her friendly visit
I knew
She carried wearisome words
So I refused
To listen
I could ignore
The ringing
Dinging doorbell
By masking with singing
I could hide
In a back room
Turning out the lights
Pretending not to be home
But ringing became knocking
Pounding louder and louder
Until I the only reasonable choice
Was to open the door
Truth persisted
She is a solid granite block
carved from mountain quarries
A full-sized mirror
revealing both beauty and blemish
She is the bright northern light
navigating our journey the the darkest of nights
A photograph
unfiltered and raw
She is truth
Three rules
about being a hero:
They shout at the cameras
…turn them off
Say you should be afraid
…turn them off
Smearing people and places
…turn them off
Dropping dubious threats
They troll for the sound bites
…turn them off
Fan flames to inflate clicks
…turn them off
As long as they’re trending
…turn them off
That’s why they exist
They constantly move goalposts
…turn them off
Point our eyes to flagrant lies
…turn them off
Spin friends into foes
…turn them off
Until social conscience dies
But we have pure power
…turn it on
Healthier influence, too
…turn it on
Hoisting empathy and truth
…turn it on
Blazing a loftier worldview
If you like this, take a look at some of my companion poems:
Going Trolling
Just One
