Internet Perils Facing Today's Youth Poem by Bob Smith

when I first told you in my arms could I
have known then birth say you know that
girl was always chasing her sister with
a screwdriver

but they never saw how you chaired your
grandfather up when he was dying
you were always lonely that's why I gave
you that computer and phone so you could
call me anytime you needed and when they

first came to me I said no she wouldn't
do this she wouldn't say such things not
the girl I raised and then I read the
final texts you'd exchanged before they
pulled her from the river

three days later oh my dear you always
had to have the last word
I thought you'd grow out of it staring
at the screen all the time I kept saying
to myself you know I'd never let them
hurt you I never thought you would how

could you do this to that girl her
parents must be new can't you imagine if
I lost you if I they wasn't the Internet
it was you you sitting a phone in your
hands your words flying like shrapnel
everywhere tearing across social media

accounts I never knew you had destroying
that girl in front of a million others
in seconds if I blame you it's because I
blame myself now how could machines
teach you empathy a thinking of all

those times I'd be watching TV and you'd
call dad daddy me distracted saying yes
dear what not thinking anything was
wrong when you said nothing daddy
nothing you