Jerry Brotherton Poet Free verse

Whose Got Next Part 1

Man have you seen all the stuff
that they’re spreading these days?
Beaming it through the air
from some satellites somewhere a 
thousand miles out in space…
Not even stopping at the 
fact check station 
long enough for a refill
of hot BS
with a side order of lies…
Because truth never matters…

Within seconds they send it
straight as an arrow 
piercing our brains
until all that remains
is the drool running down 
dripping onto the ground…
Never mind. 
I can tell you have
by that blank stare on your face…
Thinking none of this matters…

They bombard us 
with images of another
plot line and tell us not to look
that everything is fine 
until we begin to lose our focus… 
Sensationalism.
Fascism.
Communism.
Racism.
Leftism.
Rightism…
All being sold as gospel to our kids
who don’t care anymore about 
how it used to be way back when…
When some things still mattered…

I try to tell them about
how you, me, and all the other dinosaurs
cruised Main Street with our AM radios blaring.
our bell bottom jeans flaring
everybody caring
about peace and free love
and how it was all going to be groovy man…
They say all that ancient crap doesn’t matter…

Because nowadays it’s too 
hard to distinguish 
between the truth and a lie
friends or enemies 
lovers or haters
and who’s killing who 
and for what 
or for why.
Makes no difference…
Cause it don’t matter… 

Saw just the other day where
some kid shows up at the wrong house
looking for his little brother.
knocks on the door 
but the old 
guy just sees another gangster 
and guns him down…
Just because he can…
Says that’ll teach you to stay
on your own side of town…
You think he’s locked up 
in jail somewhere?
Nah he’s out running around…
Like none of it matters…

Don’t even 
get me started 
on all the other stupid
shootings going on
down at the school and the park 
birthday parties and parking lots
banks, hotels, 
swimming pools, 
make out spots…
Everybody hears the gunshots
but nobody gives it a second thought.
 
They just keep recording it 
for TikTok or YouTube…
Gotta get my likes…

Even if it don’t matter…

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Ilene Bauer September 13, 2023 at 10:00 AM this is so powerfully written, jerry! you have stated, in a very eloquent way, what (i hope) so many of us think about every day. the saddest thing about it is that i don't see any way we'll ever get back on track. i'm glad we got to experience the peace and love years and all the hope that went with them... Jerry Brotherton September 13, 2023 at 5:05 PM Right on. Maybe the legalization of marijuana will help everyone mellow out a bit. Thanks for reading and for such a wonderful comment. Peace out my friend.

Gershon Wolf September 12, 2023 at 7:58 PM What's Tik-tok?! ~ Broken Clock (Honestly, I've never viewed it... or instagram.... or What's App... or all the rest of it) ~ Luddite, and loving it! Jerry Brotherton September 13, 2023 at 5:07 PM My grandchildren and kids keep me well-informed on the goings on in the tech world. They tell me it is no longer Twitter but something called X. Can they get any more rediculous.