News We Can’t Trust

 

Hearsay and slander,

Libel and gossip

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

A juicy piece of news

Travels like a forest fire

And social media platforms

Are here for the hire.

 

“This is the gospel”

“I know it for sure”

“This is from a reliable source”

But there are more.

 

 

“You must believe me”

“From the horse’s mouth”

News from the east to west

From north to south.

 

News about politicians

And about pastors too,

News about the church-goers

From pulpit to pew.

 

Hearsay and slander

Libel and gossip,

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

Had an old pastor

That condemned gossip,

You could not take news to him

Yes, he fixed it.

 

One thing he required

And this before listening

Was for that one to be present

Meaning the victim.

 

If this couldn’t be done

It was simply, “case dismissed”

For he had better things to do,

In fact, a long list.

 

Re news we can’t trust,

We must be very careful

For we often end up hurting

Innocent people.

 

And it is embarrassing

When it is not true

Though from reliable sources

Like me and you.

 

If it is positive news

Then there is no problem

But if they bring the negative

We must reject them.

 

 

 

Hearsay and slander,

Libel and gossip

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

It is at every level:

High, medium and low

And if it is generally expected,

You’d hear, “I felt so.”

 

Let’s be more positive

Encourage the unfortunate,

Glorying in one’s misfortune

Is a pathetic mistake.

 

 

And be careful too

With this “in confidence”,

It is often said to titillate

A captive audience.

 

One thing we can try

Is a “don’t need to know”

And be that considerate person

To interrupt the flow.

 

The flow of such news

That we cannot trust

And for that unfortunate one

Causes much fuss.

 

 

 

Hearsay and slander,

Libel and gossip

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

Stewart Russell © June 18, 2024

 

 

The Conkie Issue

 

 

I couldn’t make a conkie

Even to save my life

But I am a conkie connoisseur,

You could ask my wife.

 

I know a good conkie

Even before I taste it

And this, I can assure you,

Is out of habit.

 

Take the smell first of all

Followed by the shine

And all I can think of saying is,

All is mine.

 

Taste and texture

One must not ignore,

A conkie with these attributes

Simply says more.

 

I have had two recently

And they were bombs,

In my connoisseur disposition

I ate with aplomb.

 

 

Regarding raisins

There were very few,

As a matter of fact, in one,

I counted only two.

 

I really prefer my conkies

To be raisin free

But I won’t fret about two,

That won’t kill me.

 

However, I know someone

This would kill instantly

But I won’t tell you his name

It’s between him and me.

 

And all his Facebook fans

That he often bamboozles

With his thoughtful anecdotes

And provoking puzzles.

 

 

Cronkies are outlawed;

The ‘r’ is for raisins

And only recently I found out

He said it’s a sin.

 

To put raisins in a conkie

Is to make it impure,

That is Corey’s philosophy

Need I say more?

 

Oops! His name slipped out,

What a travesty!

Please my friend, Corey,

Please forgive me.

 

I’ve already posted this,

I cannot take it out

And the fact that I just lied

Is without a doubt.

 

I will take back the lie

But the raisins will remain

And I must also tell you

So will your name.

 

I am definitely sure

You are not one of those people

That will call this malice

And sue me for libel.

 

 

Like you, my dear friend,

I prefer raisin-less conkies

But one or two or even three

Won’t matter much to me.

 

More than these

I would surely blow my top,

A raisin slice is not a conkie-

It certainly is not.

 

Stewart Russell © November 21, 2023