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Poetry Friday- Another Take On Things Fake

How to Spot Fake News - FactCheck.org

New words and terms enter our language all the time. In 2019 very few people knew the term, Covid-19. It is now spoken and written about, all around the world. Some words only stay in use for a short time and then gradually disappear from use, while others become part of everyday language. Words come and go continually. Like everyone else, I hope Covid-19 fades from our lips as quickly as possible...

In recent years another term - 'fake news' has emerged and been regularly used in the print and visual media, by politicians (and one particular person, whose name I shall not mention here) and social commentators and influencers. Sometimes people use the term merely to stop others from reaching the truth.

For this reason it has become a term that has been a source of a lot of argument and disagreement. It seems one person's fake news is seen as truth by another. It has become quite difficult to find the truth we all seek. It is easy to become confused regarding the information we are receiving.

It means each of us must read and listen and watch with great caution. We must continue to question matters presented to us, in order to stop the spread of what is often referred to as 'propaganda.'

This poem clearly takes a lighter look at fake news with some very questionable claims of 'truth.' They will be easy to detect.

I have employed a list poem approach.
I would invite all poets, particularly young poets to create their very own list poem highlighting some elements of this spread of fake news. Be alert to it. Avoid its trickery. Expose it for what it represents. 


Another Take On Things Fake

Here is today’s fake news
Read to you
By someone
Who might be me
Who might not be me
I’m not saying…

A report just out says cows can now give us chocolate milk
An update on lemonade has found it makes an excellent shampoo
Researchers have found rainbows used to be grey
And custard is now recommended as a foot balm
It’s been revealed pencil can’t keep secrets
And wasps on toast is becoming a popular snack
Phones make better friends than humans
And in news just in…
Horses would rather live in tents than stables
You heard it here first folks-

So remember
Until next time
You never heard this from me
It was someone else
Most definitely…

Alan j Wright

How to Avoid COVID-19 Fake News - Nextgov


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Comments

  1. author amok17 April 2020 at 11:15

    I love "pencils can't keep secrets" -- ha! Great idea for a list poem. I'm off to rub some custard into my feet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright18 April 2020 at 09:47

      Glad you like the poem and its potential for list poetry. Good luck with your feet.

      Delete
  2. Buffy Silverman18 April 2020 at 06:28

    Wait--are you saying cows don't give chocolate milk? And here I thought that was why some cows are brown and others are white!
    Fun poem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright18 April 2020 at 09:49

      Sorry to break this to you Buffy- sad news indeed. Thanks for sharing the fun.

      Delete
  3. Linda B18 April 2020 at 07:42

    Since I've recently read that fried crickets are the latest "good" protein, I would need to research those "wasps on toast" immediately, sounds palatable, maybe. Students will love this one and hopefully learn from it, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright18 April 2020 at 09:51

      I have read similar findings Linda, but I still would need to pass on the wasps. Like you I hope kids would enjoy such a writing project if offered. There is an educative aspect to this- you're right.

      Delete
  4. Kay18 April 2020 at 11:30

    I love it! I can imagine students having fun creating their own fake news, the more plausible the better. My favorite is pencils can't keep secrets. I've met a few pencils like that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright18 April 2020 at 13:44

      Thanks Kay. I would love to think of kids exploring this notion of fake news and developing a deeper appreciation of its hideous intent. Glad you like the pencil line.

      Delete
  5. Molly Hogan18 April 2020 at 21:20

    Such fun! I just introduced list poems to my students last week. I wish I'd had yours to share as a mentor. I appreciate the light-hearted tone and know all too well how difficult that is to achieve these days. I like to imagine you chuckling as you wrote this. "Pencils can't keep secrets" is a popular favorite, and mine as well, though the custard foot balm is a close second!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright20 April 2020 at 11:32

      Chuckling to myself is an all too common thing for me, Molly. I even do it prior to sharing a story or a joke. I'm glad you found some joy in my words.

      Delete
  6. Sally Murphy19 April 2020 at 15:37

    Thanks for the laugh Alan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright20 April 2020 at 11:30

      Laughter is a good thing to deliver Sally. That pleases me.

      Delete

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