I cannot compete with Facebook;
Where once I woke in intimacy and closeness,
That gentle, warm and half conscious dream time
Now I wake sharing with 'friends', groups, clubs...
That private softness, you and I,
Now I share with myriad others
All demanding to be served, noticed and paid attention.

I cannot compete with Facebook;
Where once we walked and laughed and noticed all,
Now on waking, breakfast, cafe and bar,
Car, train, walks and bus,
Museums, galleries and restaurants,
They are there, those faceless thousands,
Stealing life's quiet moments, stealing time,
Fast running away.

I cannot compete with Facebook;
Where once there were quiet evenings,
Reading, laughing over thoughts from the day,
Sharing a meal, stories, hopes and dreams,
Now they share them with us,
Those countless, murmuring whisperers
Clamouring to be heard, demanding attention,
Vying to be listened to, watched and played...

I cannot compete with Facebook;
Where once I learned from books,
Encyclopaedia, library, papers and news,
Now it is rumour, gossip, half-truths and lies:
Vegetables are poison, fat is good,
Elvis lives yet, Bowie too,
The moon is green, dogs can paint and cats can fly.
Unfounded, unchallengeable, indisputable,
Stone-cast, indelible facts...

I cannot compete with Facebook;
Where once we debated face-to-face,
Challenged, posed and countered live,
Now a new creed is writ,
From faceless, virtual philosophers,
Throwaway thoughts, prejudice and jibes,
Bigotry and careless bias, social viruses,
Spread at a whim, heedless of hurt or harm.

I cannot compete with Facebook;
When my precious time has finally run away,
As my coffin lid closes,
One last metaphysical thought will flash
Through the sadness of my departing soul:
"What's on your mind?" - Post...