Gossip Network

Two smiling people approach each other

eyes barely concealing the malice

lurking behind molding curtains

were bleached souls fester and rot.

The walking coffins shake hands

big chapped lips move up and down

sounds slip out, little worms that bore through skulls

stabbing at shaky personas.

The puppets exchange pleasantries, jokes, laughs

some snarky political comments

don’t worry, their views are the same

no intellectual debate, just reinforcing shallow opinions

bored detached spectators watch the farce unfold

everything is seen, watched, recorded, and uploaded

on the web for people to guak at.

The show comes to a close

with a “see you later”

walking away from each other

the curtains open up in an instant

as the souls lash out, consuming other people's attention for nutrition

junk food, empty calories

their stiff smiles drop

malice floods out into a deep raging typhoon

the actors and audience members

gather around in thick clusters

spread out randomly

whispering, sharing secrets and diatribes

trash talking, criticising

everyone and everything they know

poisoned hearts bond together

unified in their contempt

for the plebians below them

so comfortable and snug

as they spread rumours,

hungry fish that swim and lay eggs

in the internets swirling currents

electric eels gobble up the truth

and barf it back out for high prices

slightly altered each time

morphing into fiction, merging with a vast gossip network

with no bottom

and no surface.