Skip to content

A Reading Most Strong

December 29, 2006
by

If you would like to listen to the audio for this poem, then please go to my audio blog at Gabcast and click on the poetry channel, #5996. Short Stories are read on channel #5995.

“The 21st Century”

In the 21st Century.
People can no longer hear,
because they have surrendered
their ears.
And instead they survive
every second by shooting
a drug called apathy
directly into their veins.

In the 21st Century.
People can no longer see,
because they have gouged
their eyes.
And instead they cope
worm like by following
the noise of culture
blaring from every corner.

In the 21st Century.
People can no longer taste,
because they have severed
their tongues.
And instead they seek
sensations by observing
the suffering and
disasters of others.

In the 21st Century.
People can no longer feel,
because they have flayed
their skin.
And instead they crave
nourishment by rooting
in putrid refuse
heaped in the gutter.

In the 21st Century.
people can no longer care,
because they have siphoned
their brains.
And instead they grope
hopelessly for understanding
by desperate fondling
of the drug called apathy.

Have a grand New Year. Peace.

stopthef150a.jpg

27 Comments leave one →
  1. December 29, 2006 6:03 am

    Have a wonderfull 2007!!!!

    ~\(_ _;)/~ mOnk

  2. December 29, 2006 9:05 am

    I know this isn’t a new one, but hearing your words makes it more meaningful and profound…

    I think for many life has always been that way, but not for everyone; not everyone is like that, there are some wonderful people in the world who do care, who do not turn away.

    I pray they will be the ones to influence, inspire and guide us in the 21st century.

    May your New Year be blessed with good things

    lotsa luv ann xxxxxxxxx

  3. December 29, 2006 1:01 pm

    I’ve had a crappy couple of years and had been sliding down that slope into apathy and cynicism myself. Here’s to a rebirth of hope in 2007. We all could use a little more hope (and I could use a lot more). Happy New Year Brian.

  4. December 29, 2006 1:18 pm

    A powerful poem Brian!
    Great reading also!
    But, I do believe in the goodness of people!
    I have encountered so many that do care!
    May your new year be blessed with many wonderful and caring people!
    Happy New Year!

    Margie

  5. December 29, 2006 1:30 pm

    Whoa! It all rings loud and clear, but the taste ‘stanza” is the most powerful for me right now. Peace and love for 2007!

  6. December 29, 2006 1:52 pm

    Thank you Monk. Your first comment! Have a Happy 2007.

    (((Ann)))

    With friends like you, all is possible. Have a great weekend. Talk to you soon.

    Thank you Bice. Did you know that you are the first regular male commentator? I think you deserve a reward. :)

    Hi Margie,

    You can count yourself as one of the caring people. Be careful in the storm this weekend. Global warming must not have gotten the notice for Denver.

    Zapped,

    Yes, the publics appetite for taste is quite enormous. You have a wonderful weekend.

  7. December 29, 2006 2:25 pm

    Happy New Year!

    I couldnt listen this time…..stupid dial-up grrrrrr

    great poem, it could not have been written better or more truth in it.

  8. December 29, 2006 2:32 pm

    Aniin BG,

    You need to move back to the big city and get cable. :P

    Thank you and have a great and fun New Year!

  9. December 29, 2006 3:47 pm

    Darling – I truly love this work of yours. Powerful words, with deep warning. Love your voice! OXXX D

  10. December 29, 2006 3:59 pm

    Hi love,

    Thank you. *mushy face*

    XOXOXOXO

  11. December 29, 2006 5:30 pm

    Seriously, Brian, you think you “I could never in a million years write stuff as good as that” when you are throwing out brilliance in every poem!!!?!

    In this one, I especially liked the lines:

    And instead they cope
    worm like by following
    the noise of culture
    blaring from every corner.

    and:

    And instead they seek
    sensations by observing
    the suffering and
    disasters of others.

    So much truth in them…

    …but I do think Margie’s right too – there are a lotta good people out there, who care, who feel, who think and who are real!

    If I don’t see you before, Brian, have a very Happy and Peaceful (well, after the festivities) New Year!!!

  12. Paris Parfait permalink
    December 29, 2006 6:28 pm

    Such a powerful poem! Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog. I’m glad I’ve now discovered yours! Happy 2007.

  13. December 30, 2006 12:35 am

    That was powerful. It took me back for a moment, because every word, is so true. You always have the most raw, eye-opening, “in your face,” poems and stories… They really speak to me *hugs*

  14. December 30, 2006 8:11 am

    Makes one think deeply indeed, Brian.

  15. December 30, 2006 11:52 am

    Brian excellent poem … profound and thought provoking.
    hugs for you.

  16. December 31, 2006 6:22 am

    Annelisa,

    We both write different styles of poems, and I find your prose to be amazing in the complexity and story telling. You are one of the good people out there.

    Welcome Paris,

    Thanks for stopping in and commenting. Happy 2007 to you as well.

    (((Christy)))

    I hope you are doing better and finding your way along the path. Here’s to a wonderful 2007 for you and your family.

    Susan,

    I am glad you are ok, and the internet is back up for you. Good luck in 2007 with all your goals.

    Welcome Trinity and thank you for the best wishes.

  17. December 31, 2006 9:32 am

    That’s very powerful and depressing, not everyone is like that but too many people are…

  18. December 31, 2006 7:42 pm

    Hi Brian, I just clicked over from a comment you left at Rel’s blog. First time visitor, I was intrigued by your remark about internal conversations … love your blog I’ll be back to do some reading for sure.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)
    Della

  19. December 31, 2006 8:01 pm

    Thanks Crafty and I hope you have a great New Year.

    Welcome DellaB,

    Plenty of room at the table for you. Look around and if you have any questions just ask. As to my internal conversations, it’s among the five of us. :)

  20. January 2, 2007 7:11 am

    Astute, and sadly true.

  21. January 2, 2007 8:22 am

    Thanks Cheese. :) Happy New Year!

  22. October 3, 2010 9:16 pm

    Wow! There is certainly more than a little truth in this poem. Very powerful!

    Mine is here. http://razzamadazzle.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/the-storm/

  23. October 3, 2010 9:27 pm

    Happy Belated New Year…

    visit some poets to have your share of fun today..
    Thanks for the support.

  24. October 4, 2010 10:50 am

    but we do still have Hope to keep us trying to change
    :)

  25. October 4, 2010 1:59 pm

    A powerful lamentation of the smallness, selfishness of mankind… thanks for sharing..

    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
    Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com

  26. October 4, 2010 2:13 pm

    Amazing how much more meaning this has when one can literally hear the voice of the poet!

  27. October 13, 2010 10:14 am

    Deep and very piercing. I really liked it.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 41 other followers