597. Free Speech

Pushed aside, out of cultural view,

Far too many ways to be ostracized.

Redemption and truth, null and void,

And harshly criticized.

I’ll say no more than this on free speech:

That darkness thrives in the shadows of night,

And the only end for darkness,

Is exposure to Light.

K. Aldaya, 12/2/22

Picture: By Timo Volz on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/K2jUGU6ttO0

583. Disinformation and Lies

If truth hurts someone’s feelings,…

It’s disinformation,…

Though hurting you for it’s the state of the nation.

Politicians start race wars,

While blaming you and me,…

And praise morality,…

While spreading bigotry.

The masses tally point-cards,…

In games of victimhood,…

Then throw help away,…

Victimizing victimhood.

–People grow ever more tired and cruel,

Behind screens,…comments, texts, and tweets.

Trashed for each typo and misword,…

Passed with nary an eye to meet.–

What good’s a mouth that’s muzzled?

What good’s a mind, unwise?

What good’s a human heart,…

Where love can not arise?

K. Aldaya, 5/19/22

Picture: By: Maarten Scheer on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/7Ouf2hMCYi4

576. Freedom: Sold to the Highest Bidder

We live in a time when everyone talks, yet no one listens.

Where experience lies unappreciated,

And the most vital thoughts rejected,…

As the most trivial are collected,

To societies’ detriment.

How did we find ourselves here in this dystopian nightmare?

Where truth’s owned and controlled by the highest bidder,

Who muzzles and shackles the poor,…

While distracting, ties them down more and more,

‘Til not only are their bodies not free,

They aren’t free to think anymore.

K. Aldaya, 2/18/22

Picture: By Levi Stute on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/T-JyPYThwtw