Conflicted (a poem)

Conflicted

Troubled

I am troubled, and frankly

I’m saddened to see—

on a daily basis—

what the Substack community has become,

devolving into a toxic place

where apparently misogyny,

harassment,

and even worse things are permitted

(sickening.)

It’s not fun any more.

I didn’t join to find contentious discourse

and hatred. I came here to write,

and to find my people.

And I have found them

(I love you all very, very much,)

but it’s not the same any more.

Melancholy covers me,

I won’t let it smother me, though.

Many have found alternative communities.

I probably will, too.

**

(Image courtesy of https://thebaffler.com/salvos/beyond-left-melancholy-proctor )