The Keyboard Warrior's Creed

The Keyboard Warrior's Creed

I saw the post, it *caught my eye, so in haste I clicked reply.

And stupidly wrote out my thoughts, "I am so wise", thought I. 

I hit the button and watched it go and slapped my back with pride.

I set them straight, I smacked 'em good, I wouldn't let it slide. 

Around the world somebody saw the words that I had said.

They saw no wisdom, read no wit, just sadly shook their head. 

And realized the answer to the Facebook bully's gall;

Is mostly just to hit "Mute Thread" and say nothing at all. 

In pity they avoid response, to help me "not look bad",

But if we're more than Facebook friends, I know that they were sad.

'Cause I thought I had been so bright, I saw myself as keen.

While everybody else just saw a goof behind a screen. 

Oh, why the desperate need I feel, to always have a say.

To offer my opinion -- to correct, persuade, disdain?

Is it not true, as Grampa said, that sleeping dogs should lie?

So why go stirring trouble up, just let it idle by?

Today I'll fill my feed with good and try with all my might,

To guard my thoughts, my words, my texts -- I need to get it right. 

I will beware of idle words, I'll go the extra mile,

To bless the "friends" upon my page and leave them with a smile.

* * * * *

Worth Repeating 7.16.16

"Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persucuted whenever I am contradicted." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The White Elephant

It’s there in the corner, it’s bulk hard to miss,

It’s hard facts and gossip, things hard to dismiss.

With friends or with strangers, it sits there so still,

And can kill conversation like nothing else will.

In the brightest of sunlight it’s shadow is there,

It even crowds in when I’m kneeling for prayer.

Conversation grows stilted when it is addressed,

Laughter chokes off and smiles grow distressed.

It separates family and friends with it’s ire,

But we all can agree that it needs to retire.

The elephant, they call him, his color is white,

He represents all that we can’t say or write.

So the word for each one who is tired of the dance,

Is here's what you do if you're given the chance.

Grab the big beast ‘fore ambition grows stale,

Pull him into the light by his trunk or his tail.

Don’t let your bygones control your today,

And don’t let your past drive you out of your way.

When bitterness dies and right words have been said,

Only then can we know that the elephant’s dead.

~ JH

Replaced by a Boy

REPLACED BY A BOY

Goliath cried out for many a day

Just give me man to fight

And every man present ran into his tent

And hid from the terrible sight.

For the shield was huge and the sword was sharp

And the armour, a sight to behold

His words and his size and the look in his eyes

Made every man’s blood run cold.

More vile by the day as he laughed at their fear

He barked like a dog gone mad

’Til onto the field with indignant surprise

Stepped a humble, courageous lad.

With wild beating heart and a sling in his hand

Plus a stone that he found by the brook

He ran straight to the fray with only his God

And nary a backward look.

The cry of the giant, the words that he spoke

His affront to the men was uncouth

But the only one brave enough to take a stand

Wasn’t even a man, but a youth.

He turned down the armour of cowardly kings

And to those who had failed to deploy

He said, If God can’t find a man who will go

I guess he will just use a boy.

So grown men cowered and scrounged for excuse

And were scared of the giant’s guffaws

’Til God stepped past men and discovered a boy

Who would recognize “There is a Cause.”

So if we aspire to be men of God

And we seek to avoid all disgrace

Then we must determine to fight for the right

And not let a boy take our place.

~ JH