DAY 7

Prompt – Crossing the Line

* * *

We all have opinions, thoughts, and beliefs . . . but, and this has always been so, it’s sometimes dangerous to speak them. Social media has a dark side. Those who express themselves, thinking outside of the status quo, those who share an opinion someone else may disagree with, end up on the wrong side of keyboard warriors, friends become foes. Feelings are hurt, words are misinterpreted, skewed.

For the most part, I try to stay out of it all, just keep scrolling.

My silence is not tantamount to inaction. My actual actions speak for themselves. I grow weary of people flinging round the accusation that if you are not a part of the discussion, you are part of the problem. I’ve seen too many of these discussions – they are themselves, part of the problem. 

People aren’t speaking to each other, they are speaking at and against each other. People aren’t listening to hear, they are listening to find fault.

It tires me.

It breaks my heart.

* * * 

The Lines We Cannot See

Lines drawn in

sinking sands,

invisible boundaries

you don’t know

you’ve crossed

until you’ve taken

a single step

too far,

whispered a simple word

too many,

and you’re eye to eye

with an enemy

you didn’t know you had.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Your judge,

a stranger, unknown

faceless masses,

your jury,

alone before the gavel,

their wrath

becomes your

penalty.

Standing in

your own defense,

not allowed to speak,

guilty or innocent,

sentenced to silence,

unless you choose

to agree,

no recompense given,

thoughts, no longer,

are free.

Previous Challenge Posts ~

#OctPoWriMo 2017

Day 1 – How Did You Get here?

Day 2 – We Write Because We Must

Day 3 – Cherita Poem – Metal