The bard has never had it easier.
A book can cross oceans
with the push of a finger.
A poem can find a stranger
before the dreaming cat wakes up.
A voice can travel farther
than any poet from another century
could have imagined.
And still,
I fight for twelve seconds.
Twelve seconds for someone
to stop scrolling.
Twelve seconds for a stranger
to sit alone with their feelings.
A golf swing gets watched.
A fish gets caught.
Boobs get revealed.
Animal videos get shared
a thousand times.
But a human being sitting alone,
trying to turn their wounds into words,
trying to connect with this world
we were born into,
trying to take the edge off the pain,
sometimes gets passed by.
Maybe that's the price
of living in a world
where everything is common
and available.
Even poetry.
Maybe the hardest thing
isn't being heard.
Maybe the hardest thing
is finding someone willing
to be still.
-
Author:
Thomas W Case (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: August 11th, 2026 06:37
- Comment from author about the poem: All of my books are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX?ref=sr Here is a link to my YouTube channel where I read from my recently published books and occasionally put up videos of my attempts at golf: https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasWCase
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 44
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, A.N., Kevin Hulme, Tristan Robert Lange
Offline)
Comments8
Very true, Thomas and serenely put. A poem of a poem. Olaf
Thanks
Thomas you have succeeded in putting into words what I have been thinking about and fumbling over for some time. People hardly read anymore preferring audio books and even that falls pale to video games and streaming or even tic toc peoples attention has grown short. Nicely written my friend and a fave
Thank you, my friend.
Most welcome Thomas
Great ending. Thank you
ty
"Learn to be still" - a hard ask in today's world but what must be done if you don't want to be swallowed whole by it. I think it's just easier for people to watch or discuss "detached content" then to be real and scare people; but hey....that's our job as poets. Hold a mirror up. Love your style - quick, precise and descriptive.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
As my old teacher said. It's all about the meter.
God, he did my head in.
Probably right though, the poem has to grab you, otherwise the blond girl passing by has got the eye and its gone.
Thank you, my friend.
It's amazing how People like to watch utter Dross online. Chewing gum for the eyes.
I even see Children in Pushchairs on a device.
A fine Poem as usual.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Thomas, damn…this one hits home. We’ve gained the ability to put poetry in front of nearly anyone on earth while simultaneously losing the ability to keep anyone still long enough to receive it. Powerful and painfully relevant, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Thank you.
i hear you, and agree...trying to get myself to implement it too..
Thank you.
welcome !
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