FRIDAY THOUGHTS : POETRY PROMPT --SOURCES

SOURCES 

You have no spokesman

You have no team

You have none of the stuff that the inquiring seem

To think you need to do the things you love to do

Still, opportunities have been more than a few

You have no “people” 

Except your kin

You have no manager, nor agent

Who says when

You can, or can’t participate, or show your face

It’s up to you to choose if you can be in place

There’s no strict contracts 

No strings, nor ties

No representative who you have authorized 

No exclusivity, no chains—so much belies

The words of those who, for some reason, chime right in

When you’re the subject in the rooms they’re lurking in:

“Oh, she can’t do it!”

“Not a good fit.”

“Isn’t there somebody else out there we can get?”

“No. They won’t do it.”

“That’s not his thing.”

“She only rocks with so-and-so.”

“Can he still sing?”

“Ain’t she retired?”

“I thought he died!”

“We asked around and got no answer,

But we tried!”

“I heard he doesn’t do that sort of thing no more.”

“They’re kinda old. It won’t be like it was before.”

“Don’t even bother. He’s not coming over here.”

“Oh, she won’t show unless we have this brand of gear.”

“They’re difficult.”

“I heard he’s mean.”

“Oh absolutely not. Don’t call that drama queen.”

Sometimes, the word out on the street 

Is courtesy of talebearers you’ve yet to meet

But, other times, it’s sadly so

The most egregious mouthpieces, are folks you know

So, if you’ve asked a random soul

To articulate another’s aims or goals

Their whereabouts, interests; availability 

There’s always something that’s been puzzling to me

Sources are there; under your nose

These days, it’s so easy to reach out, I suppose 

To get the answers for a myriad of tasks

Could it be the problem lies with who you ask?

Why think or guess, when you can know?

Perhaps you should stop blindly trusting so-and-so.

Have you considered, that maybe they

Are the reason people seem to stay away?

Lack is something that never has to be

Neither incompetence, nor mediocrity 

So many have, simply because 

They knew to seek who the reliable source was.

If you seek A, why go to G?

Credible sources offer truth and clarity 

If you want A, then call on A!

Why call on X,Y, Z to guess or speculate?

So, here’s a wise, practical gem:

Shade often masquerades as help

Gatekeeping for the sake of self

Stop making more work for yourself 

Stop asking everybody else

Skip all the people who might know, and just ask HIM

Ask HER

Ask THEM.

VRWc2024