SOCIAL TOYS

We are creating a world of sociopaths. if we are not careful it will destroy us!

 

 

The flickering box talks to me
It says I should "flaunt" what I got
The world is made of two kinds of people
Those who have and those who have not
It labels all the obvious social disparities
It draws distinct class and color lines
Teaches truth with the reality shows of the unworthy
Shows us that idiots waste Donald Trump's time

 

I turn off my flicker box
I turn the squawk box on
I listen to its incessant quacking
Yet I still attempt to sing along
I hear Pop songs about monetary idolatry
Rappers calling girls "My B***h"
Country music about American Pageantry
People screaming they are the S**t
It offers no wealth of knowledge
But I still try to sing along
Until my ailing mind is sated
And I turn it off and leave my home.

 

I go to watch the "Flesh Show"
Movies exhibiting bodies torn apart
Showing pantomimes of malicious murders
That our society sees as art
Women raped, beaten, and naked
Are displayed to merely amuse
Actors who places a cost on their dignity
Are happily objectified and used
Their bodies move smartly
No one cares about a plot
We scream at the pointless explosions
Until the credits roll and it stops

 

I go home to play on the "Sex Net"
I think the internet is divine
All the wanton pleasures
A voyeuristic mind can ever find
It is a portable little oblivion
Where people don’t worry about their soul
Site after site of deprivation
With more flesh then you can behold
I please myself to its fornication
Then I go lie down on my bed
Dreaming of all the twisted wonders
These toys have placed inside my head

 

It’s been 4 days since I killed a man
I have been living with my toys
Trying to enjoy their wonder
Getting lost in their perpetual noise
Tomorrow I'll have to kill
Because the debt of my fervor has returned
I 'll have to pay the social bill
These social toys have helped me earn

© 2013 Eddie Phillips

Reviews

[Marri]

I think this is well written and containing truth although it leaves no leeway for the existing masterpieces in music, film... You expose superficial and phony media, nonetheless. I still hide idealistic and rather romantic appreciation for art which, in my opinion, will always find a course to stream down to and will be brighter next to the gloomiest of trivia. While your poem sings pessimistically I am absolutely sure that a few thought-provoking, inspirational and profound works should give it hope :)

I liked very much the idea for 'killing a man' which I interpret as killing the man inside of you who has higher aspirations than the string of monotonous actions which are supposed to constitute living. It takes a lot of creativity to smuggle our passions to everyday life and still survive the clash between the should and the want to....

I liked it, consistenly strong.

[Eddie Phillips]

Thank you for reading and understanding the poem. It is a problem that I see everyday. People give themselves to toys and limit their own creativity. Thank you for your enlightening comment and taking the time to say something about this piece.

[redflutterby]

Such a thought evoking write. Some of the same ideas have occurred to me as well. The emptiness of entertainment forms is significant. TV...music and movies that seem only to thrive on shock value not on quality. Hours spent feeding the incessant need for instantaneous gratification. We live in a fast food society...it fills the belly cheaply but what price do we pay for it? Fantastic writing!!

[Eddie Phillips]

It is a troubling world of remorseful activity and sycophantic doctrine. It has become so empty because the well is dry and people substitute their joys for a good product by focusing on the way they receive it. Lack of creativity is a natural but the systematic attempt to squash real creativity is a true problem. Thank you for reading and connecting with this poem.

[Derek Nall]

Gripping and powerful...

[Eddie Phillips]

Aw man thanks for reading and liking this poem. I was at first worried that no one would get it or care about its message. I was wrong apparently it hit the chord I wanted. Thanks for your positive comment.

[Nix]

WOW! This is very convicting. And every word is absolutely true. The media is disgusting and we as a society encourage it. It's not the producers fault it's the people who enjoy it. Very powerful. One of your best! Perfect rhythm as well.
I did find two typos
"I turn off my flicker box I turn the squawk box on I listen to its incessant quaking"
I think you meant Quacking but it could be quaking as well... haha
And
"As I watch the realty shows of the unworthy
And ogle corporate bosses living the sublime"
I think you meant "reality"
This is definitely one of my favorites!

[Eddie Phillips]

Hey thanks for catching those errors. I don't always have time to immediately check for errors so please point them out as you see them. I have tried to get better about going back and reading poems over but I don't usually do it. I am strange in the fact that I can write something and not go back to it for months. So I really thank you for reading.

[Baby Ricochet]

Have we as a species changed so much as one iota since the days of the Roman Circus? Nope.

[Eddie Phillips]

Nope, and I think as history is written every day we prove that continually. Thanks for reading!

[Sirius King]

wow this is really powerful, and i wasn't expecting the ending

this one is going into my favs!

[Ruthie Igunbor]

its a good piece. Unconventional and beautiful

[Azriel]

wonderful piece, and even greater concept... i think this is a great social commentary on our reality. i also liked how you tackled all the media forms and the things that we make to be idols or important and the effects it has on us. great piece, filled with great imagery and an extremely powerful message.

[A. H. Pinley]

Distracted, consumed, mislead or guided, idolized, must have this or that to be somebody. One big sales pitch to get you to forfeit your freedom to think for yourself and turn your eyes away from the One that gave you breath. Society is like that hot carbonated beverage shaken, pressure building, it's a good thing the cap is one to keep me contained, but the cap is about to come off and I haven't yet settled down. Very thought provoking writes Eddie.

[carol burgess romance]

very powerful imagery and strong theme....I agree that our minds are overloaded with things thaat would cause my parents to roll over tin their graves...where it all ends ...good write