Sunday, October 30, 2016

948 - Divide and Conquer


Three Word Wednesday requires participants
to use the three words of the week in a composition.
The words this week are: 

vapid, adjoining and bouncy.


Divide and Conquer.

The world comes to us through TV:
Talking heads give vapid chatter
And cover up the things that matter
With bouncy echoes of page three.

We accept what others want to give;
Fed warm pap, served with distain.
Discounted as they know we will remain—
Expected to exist but not to live.

I hurts to accept the bleeding truth:
We have permitted idiots to rule us.
So they, in turn, feel free to fool us:
Did we not choose them in the booth?

As, on all horizons, disaster looms,
We watch TV in adjoining rooms.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2016
---

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31 comments:

  1. "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

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  2. You speak the sad truth.

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  3. Funny how these things evolve; I wrote a last line first ("Two souls in locked but adjoining rooms") but it morphed as the rest of it changed.

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  4. Amazing isn't it? How common sense is lost...

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  5. This is a classic... and that last line!!!!

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  6. I especially like the turn of phrase "on all horizons". It plays with my brain.

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  7. " Two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,year after year" Pink Floyd.Spring weather affects the brain...dontcha know:)

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    1. Too late, she cried, as he waved his wooden leg. Something like that. Spring, summer, autumn, winter - my brain is well...seasoned.

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  8. Distraction is how we accept the unacceptable so the government can do what it likes this Tuesday on Melbourne Cup day!

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    1. I wish you were wrong but I know that you are not.

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  9. Such a powerful rendition!

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  10. Yes, that is what I fear as well. On all fronts, disaster looms......
    Oh, for those 'peaceful' days in the past when there was only the Cold War!

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  11. As, on all horizons, disaster looms,
    We watch TV in adjoining rooms

    Divide and rule. That's the way of the privileged and the rich. The downtrodden are separated into different 'rooms', regions or areas for easy 'arrangements'

    Hank

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  12. The world is changing and the views of news create a distorted reality. I worry about our future. Divide and conquer they say. How can we stand united with so much division? My heart grieves in the shadows of darker days.

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  13. This is the modern world. More Tvs, More options - less community.

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  14. Yes, for all the chatter of the talking heads, the real state of things is carefully hidden. Would you believe Standing Rock is being reported on facebook, not mainstream News?

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    1. Hmmmm... they are conspicuously absent. Greed and self serving power over another... we need a black out so culture can reset.
      ZQ

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  15. Yes. What a world. I try not to think of doom, but it's so hard. I wish civilization could reset.

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  16. A poignant reminder to news as it is rendered

    have a good Sunday

    much love...

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  17. And so the masses are moved. Well done

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  18. Awesomely constructed piece ... the form, rhyme and message: perfect synergy. Watching that "bleeding truth" ... ugly little news bites ... that terrify. Wonderful writing.

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  19. The third stanza is I think the current state of any government and media. Sometimes it's difficult which one is telling the truth.

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  20. I think your closing lines are the most powerful. We don't really speak with one another. Perhaps we fear having to think it through and form an opinion?

    Elizabeth

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  21. Talking heads give vapid chatter...

    What a perfect description.

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  22. Well, depends what you watch, perhaps. (I seldom stray far from ABC1, with occasional forays to SBS.)

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    Replies
    1. The ABC & SBS are no better most nights. Veering away from reporting the news and verging on voyeurism.

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