Eating from the Tree of Misinformation

Near the edge of democracy’s garden sprouted the Tree of Misinformation, quickly growing into the largest tree with leafy branches broad and long and tall. Though toxic was its eye-catching fruit, many ate the deceptive apples that clouded their minds and blinded their eyes. They could not even perceive the clear, self-evident truth that a deceitful serpent had slyly seduced them. Fanatically following the swindler, angrily amplifying audacious lies, they spread wide more tainted seeds throughout the lush fertile garden. Will the garden wither into wastelands littered in reeking, rotting fruit and minds, while the people perish not understanding why? (This poem was inspired by the not-nearly-so-dark Oct. 8, 2024 Frank & Earnest cartoon by Bob Thaves as well as the equally dark Garden of Eden story in Genesis 2 and darker-still political events. See also my poems “How Would Jesus Vote?” and “The 2023rd Psalm.”