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The stereos are typing

I.  



Stereos love to type,
but they can’t spell well.

Sometimes the keys get stuckkk.

If only they would write by hand
they might feel the misdirection
of their oversized loops
but they continue, without a clue.

In imaginary gardens they swoon,
senses overwhelmed by the smell
of assumptions in bloom,

compulsively crafting compartments
where people can be categorized,
sorted, data comported...

 

_____
[ethnicity]
_____
[gender]
_____
[age]
_____

[religion]
______


But those typists become confused
when disabused of their illusions,

realizing each person they seek to divide and conquer
     is a singular, indivisible,
complex composition that can’t be separated
with even the sharpest suppositions.

There is a cost, too much truth is lost,
from predicting and depicting
based on presumed contents of a mislabeled box.

 

 

 

II.


The stove is hot.
But if nobody stirs,
we will never melt this pot.

Please tell me what you think

    : , Your review:

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Comments

1 - 11 of 11

  • csmmoms2
    August 24

    Edit | Reply

    Wow

    Lovely I really liked the part about the mislabeled box, comported in imaginary gardens.
    And thankyou for your kind comment.


  • Mirthryl
    July 2

    Edit | Reply
    Outstanding! Witty condemnation of stereotyping, which is a habit largely of laziness and self-justification (in my opinion).
    Delightful "stuckkk". Fabulous imagery in garden stanza. Intense "each person they seek to divide and conquer is a singular, indivisible, complex composition that can't be separated with even the sharpest suppositions!"
    Insightful "too much truth is lost, predicting and depicting based on presumed contents."
    Invitation in the final stanza to be part of the solution, reaching beyond the self to connect with others. For we may find more alikeness and beauty than we imagine beyond the walls of incompletely and mis-labeled boxes!


    • Mallig gold member
      July 2
      Edit | Reply
      Thanks D! I like what you said about "a habit largely of laziness and self-justification", that is a great way to put it. Adopting stereotypes really is a lazy way to think you know about someone. When people believe stereotypes, it is easier for them to dismiss people who differ from that idea as "exceptions" rather than evaluate whether their "knowledge" may not be accurate.

  • MariGoes gold member
    June 30

    Edit | Reply

    compulsively crafting compartments
    where people can be categorized

     

    You said it so well! If there is a thing I really dislike is to see people being categorized as if they were some kind of merchandise.

    To me there is one category, human beings, and there we see good and bad ones. Yet, many people make 'packages' and label men and women the way they please. I was talking with a friend yesterday about something very similar, how people take one individual and based on belief, race and even political preference, instanly add that person into a small group, which is mostly a bad one.

    Like muslins, it's sad to see that many people think that every muslins form a threat, and that is just one example. I'm glad that here in Belgium we do have a different mentality, or most of us have anyway.

    You have this amazing power of using words to talk about social issues. Always very effective, always leaving me impressed :)

     

     


    • Mallig gold member
      June 30
      Edit | Reply
      Thanks, Mari! Stereotypes really bother me. It's easy to find an example of someone in a group for whom the stereotype is true, and people use that to justify their conclusions. But most stereotypes are just plain wrong about most people, and they can be really insulting and divisive. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

  • Peteskid gold member
    June 28

    Edit | Reply
    One age's great melting pot is another's frozen stare; expectations have changed and that may be the door to real change, yes "stereos" "typing" such anachronisms in the age of stuff happens faster than we can blink or think... excellent work here...PK


  • secberm
    June 28

    Edit | Reply
    The stove is hot.
    But if nobody stirs,
    we will never melt this pot.

    I LOVE these lines. Nice. Even if we are fully stirred, there will be others looking into the percentage of what was added. 10% cream in 90% coffee isn't as light as 20 or 30%. How about the about of butter or tomato juice in that spegetti? Jeez Louise... Now you got me pulling out my measuring cups. Look at what you dided?

    Now let me go get a piece of watermelon to wash down this fried chicken I just ate.

    Write on, love.

    Dez


    • Mallig gold member
      June 28
      Edit | Reply
      LOL Thanks! And think of those poor people who can't stand for their food to touch each other. By the way is it the red or purple kool-aid that goes with fried chicken? I can never remember.

      • secberm
        June 28
        Edit | Reply
        It's the red kool-aid. The purple goes with barbeque potato chips or Doritos. For every glass of water and packet, add a five pound bag of sugar.

  • Midnight-In-Prayer
    June 28

    Edit | Reply
    I absolutely love the last line! It is so true. And the title was wonderfully captivating.....do you eat a bowl of Amazing Crunch every morning with talent-enriched milk? Becuase if so, you don't need it.

1 - 11 of 11