From Thrill to Warzone

A world of its own, where connections blossomed. Who could deny the first thrill? Talking with so many people, all at once, around the world. I never questioned the absurdity, for I found my people and latched onto brilliant ideas they shared. Reunited with long-lost relatives, a promise realised, bringing us closer. We spent hours in the comfy digital living rooms, chatting and happy with wonders of technology.

No-one dared talk about the relentless grip, addiction a strong word. That was until someone figured out how to make money hacking attention. Best twerker received rewards and praise. But at what cost? There’s no winning the competition. Deep pockets pay the bots. Civil conversations abandoned, dark shadows emerged, casting a blight on what once was a haven.

Social media today—
a dark realm, bullying rampant, children and adults alike altering ourselves to fit the mold. Deep wounds covered with sparkly smiles to outdo Mona Lisa’s, the perfect canvas to draw a self-portrait. Who wants to be left out, feeling jaded, and standing by the FOMO roadside!

An arcane world, tainted by conflict, became a war zone of opinions. Sophisticated battles in the arena of pixels, you wouldn’t know you’d enlisted in the squad cancelling the culture. A simple click speaks volumes. Scrolling endless, a sinking ship drowned by the noise, leaves us conflating attention with care.

Oh my people, beautiful and sensible people, hijacked by creatures that do not breathe! Social media today— it’s not that I’m a hater, I simply feel outside of culture.

a world of its own,
battles fought to feed the beast
bringing us closer.

Prompt 26. On social media, today for Write Right @Thotpurge.

PS. Featured Image by Piotr Cichosz at Unsplash.

History’s Keen Eye

Faint echoes of the past linger —
Ghostly wails haunt the present
as history’s keen eye judges
deeds both dark and bright.
Time’s impartial voice prevails
and reveals truth in its verdict.
It’s astonishing how humankind
fails to learn from experience!

Prompt 24. History will be the judge, for Write Right @Thotpurge

The Endless Newsreel

watching news or news watching, it’s all the same
crisis, year after year, changing face
day after day, we wade through
grasping at straws,
perplexed.

crisis —
year after year, changing face
pandemic or epidemic, it’s all the same
lonely and contagious virus infecting the soul.

changing face —
year after year, crisis
climate change or changed climate, it’s all the same
burning world, drowning world, starving world, rich world.

year after year —
war or conflict, it’s all the same
innocent lives lost in both attacks and counter-attacks,
and this month a year ago, war erupted in Sudan – forgotten news.

day after day —
a perpetual state of grief,
collective and personal through the lens
of our individual worlds and haunting daily concerns.

crisis —
there’s no time for an oxygen mask
art must fight complex systemic injustices,
standing on social media’s shaky ground, without support.

changing face —
expecting, blaming, grudging and hurting
we show up guarded, wearing our invisible armours
only to talk about weather, for we crave human connection.

crisis —
endless newsreel is not imagination
but a reality as we cling to hope up in flames,
for humans possess a unique skill to both create and destroy.

day after day —
broken and ruptured, we wait for another ration
for how are we to know when the terminator
is finally at our doorstep!

news watching or watching news, it’s all the same
changing face, year after year, crisis
day after day, we trudge
grasping at straws,
exhausted.

Prompt 21. Watching the news, for Write Right @Thotpurge

PS. Featured Image created using Gencraft.