"Look at the Way We Live"

Some poetry for this Friday

I would like to share a bit of poetry with you if that’s OK on this Friday morning.

I think this poem is a beautiful assessment of social media’s effect on our souls.

Ok it’s not a poem, it’s a lyric from a rap song, but honestly, those two forms of art are more commonly the same than different.

Here it is (language warning; also, some spacing added by me for easier reading).

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Missin' out on my years
There's times when I wish I was where I was
Back when I used to wish I was here
Missin' out on my days
Scrollin' through life and fishin' for praise
Opinions from total strangers take me out of my ways
I try and see who's there on the other end of the shade
Most times it's just somebody that's underaged
That's probably just alone and afraid
And lashin' out so that someone else can feel they pain

I always hear people complain about the place that they live
That all the people here are fake and they got nothin' to give
'Cause they been starin' at somebody else's version of shit
That makes another city seem more excitin' than it is

I know a girl whose one goal was to visit Rome
Then she finally got to Rome
And all she did was post pictures for people at home
'Cause all that mattered was impressin' everybody she's known

I know another girl that's cryin' out for help
But her latest caption is "Leave me alone"

I know a girl happily married 'til she puts down her phone

I know a girl that saves pictures from places she's flown
To post later and make it look like she still on the go

Look at the way we live

I wasn't hidin' my kid from the world
I was hidin' the world from my kid

From empty souls who just wake up and look to debate
Until you starin' at your seed, you can never relate

Breakin' news in my life, I don't run to the blogs
The only ones I wanna tell are the ones I can call
They always ask, "Why let the story run if it's false?"

You know a wise man once said nothin' at all

I'm exhausted and drained, I can't even pretend

All these people takin' miles when you give 'em an inch
All these followers but who gon' follow me to the end?
I guess I'll make it to the end and I'ma find out then.

— Verse 2 of “Emotionless” by Drake

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Indeed, Drake. Look at the way we live.

Song is below if you want to listen.