they line up
for the newest lie
wrapped in glass and WiFi
thumbs twitching
like lab rats
for their next hit
of dopamine
again
again
again
a man can starve
in a room full of people
as long as he
starves quietly
but trip on a
sidewalk
and someone will
film it for
likes and applause
truth does not trend
it smells like
unpaid rent
old cigarettes
and your father’s
disappointment
they want slogans
short enough
to tattoo on their forearm
long enough
to feel important
I once saw a woman cry
because her phone
battery died
her child
was tugging at her coat
like a forgotten thought
men argue online
about virtue
while kicking their dogs
off camera
we cancel strangers
to feel holy
and forgive ourselves
for being small minded
the politicians grin
like used car salesmen
selling apocalypse
with a warranty
and we sign
every contract
without reading
the fine print
because thinking
hurts
and if we stopped
for five minutes
we might hear
how shallow
we’ve become
so we scroll
and we clap
we crucify
and we call it
culture
the earth
doesn’t care
about your hashtags
and the grave
has no comment
section
I drink to that
not because
it’s tragic
but because
it is honest