Confabulation

To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea. - Thoreau

lots of gems unearthed

so much gleaned from gab

garnered from gossip

whilst taking a together sip

like a one-eyed jeweler

he decided to do away with the company newsletter

opting instead

to gather everyone 'round the watercooler

Author's Note

"When our life ceases to be inward and private, conversation degenerates into mere gossip." - Thoreau

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Even tho your poem seems to be tongue-in-cheek & many of your reviewers honed in on the watercooler as a symbol of the workplace, I see this differently. This feels like a spoof on all those people who choose gossip over fact, which brings us to the way the news is rendered these days. It seems real news is not part of the programming at most of these so-called news networks . . . and they only serve up with the people gobble up . . . so we only have ourselves to blame that most of what passes for news is actually opinion. The masses love those opinion-news commentaries on whatever side you're on! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

good vision - i always appreciate your spin on things. the devil is hardly ever home - he's inside of us. i would add that the "powers that be" ignore problems or do nothing about them which results only in fanning the flames of gossip. thoreau had it right with both quotes ... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

might just as well right?! you know .. i have never worked anywhere there was a water cooler to stand around ... a drinking fountain yes .. but at those you get a drink and leave .. no cups to hold nor ceremony to speak of .... your social commentary is so spot on, in my opinion .. sharp with sarcasm and relevance ... well done says i! .... love the first quote from Thoreau too .. the one in your Author's Note is good too; but I especially like the first. thanks for sharing Pete .. its a goodn'
E. .

[Pete]

the lunchroom, the bathroom, the parking lot - anywhere will suffice. thank you e. ... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

yes .. that is true .. it will and does do fine for those participants .. i worked as an RN when not many men were in the field and when i saw them slowly begin to gather behind the Nurses Station, I slipped away and made coffee for me self ;) they could be brutal to whoever was not present; but we always remained a strong team .. I think it was just a way to hit the release button on all the steam build up ... I worked in Pediatric Intensive Care ;)

[Pete]

i understand ... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

great pic as well ... also very emotive.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Oh yes, the watercooler.

I read this and then smiled thinking of Hee Haw an when barbi benton and the others sang that song...
"we're not ones to go around spreading rumors, you know we're just not the gossiping kind..."
Better listen close the first time and have another cup of water...

[Pete]

lol. i forgot that on hee haw. some people love gossip - their faces light up and they lean in so as to not miss a thing. good share j. ... :)