ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Reading Catherine’s poem responding to the homework Of Changing Times I remembered a poem I wrote several years back prompted by disgusting social media comments about a female rugby league commentator. Problem was I had no one to send it to

Untitled

How fervent is your hatred?
How deep does it go?
Are you some of those noises
who so proudly show

their fears and anxieties,
delusions of harm,
about those who differ?
Does it sound your alarm?

What is it that scares you;
their colour; their speech;
their achievements; the dreams
that are out of your reach?

Do you share your opinions
with others, like you,
who choose to embrace
a ‘superior’ view?

Do you rant? Do you rage?
Does it make you feel strong?
Build a platform beneath it
to fit your theme song?

Do you lump all the ills
of the world at the feet
of your favourite hate?
Is your anger so sweet

it gives fuel to your being
makes sense of your goal,
while the art of sane thinking
is placed on parole?

You hide there on line
anonymously safe
and churn out your vile
toxic language that chafes

You're a cowardly nobody
whose meanness ensures
that in this life and next
you will be nothing more.

I wish I could send this
every full stop every letter
But if not I’m ok because
Now I feel better

Wazza

Spot on, Wazza - it never ceases to amaze me that people actually have the time and inclination to sit down and be not just unkind, but utterly vile towards other human beings on social media, very often anonymously too, of course! The arguments and horrendous insults that can fly between people who've never even met is astonishing...And for what? Does it change anything in the world? .....Yes - one thing unfortunately - it creates more and more division and hatred.

Yes Catherine ... it defies logic. If there is one thing I am certain about in my once upon a time years it's how being respectful was a way of life.
Wazza

Very true, Wazza. "Rights without responsibility" seems to be the motto of these people who believe they are entitled to spew hatred online.

Very well put Shelley.