
Photo by: torbakhopper
I see what you’re trying to do
I promise
Many believe that words gave us life
So you type and you swipe
Your numbers and letters
To give life to a maximum of 160 characters
In your driver’s seat
You become the narrator
But what is it worth
If you can’t save the five most important characters
Y-O-U
And don’t forget
M-E
I don’t understand
How could this be going on
Our lives are finally worth more than a drink
But worth less than an emoticon
Just a few letters
That could be all it takes
Keep your eyes on the road
So you can put your foot on the brakes
We have to make a change
We’ve got to make it right
It’s all fun and games
Until LOL stands for Loss of Life
You only have one chance
You don’t get to do this twice
So as you drive
Strive for life
You still have 160 characters
All I’m asking is that you save five
But if you can’t
And decided that you are worth less than three
Don’t do it for you
Do it for M-E
By Homer, 12th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Sophia Singleton, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. The background music is “Sun-Filled” by Ketsa, from the Free Music Archive. freemusicarchive.org. Produced by Susan Phillips.

Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.