I.G.

by Darren Barnes 

Poetry, Heard/Arlington County Detention Facility/OAR writing contest, August 2021

I.G., we all know it as instagram.

A place you can receive alot of unknown loving fans.

Let me be the first to tell you, that’s not who I am.

We have all these followers but I ask you, are we truly leaders?

Are we truly using our power wisely?

Or are we courageous enough to post things without a pointless meme.

Let’s master change and not do things just to be seen.

Or better yet in the words of “Method Man” for the C.R.E.A.M.

We run to social media like internet feins.[fiends]

We act like that’s our only option when we’re stuck in a state of bore.

Let’s level up and change this and see what god really has in store.

For me, I.G. isn’t short for instagram, it’s short for Instant gratification.

I’m assuming we indulge in this manifestation just for a little clarification,

so we can get away from that ball of solitude

or so we won’t feel as small as a molecule.

I.G. will give you that fakelove just to make sure your ambitions and morals don’t grow.

Now be that thread, that golden thread that runs through life of great leaders.

So stay committed, have high ethics and master change,

because remember I.G. is instant gratification and it will put you to shame.

Do me a favor, don’t look around for one of your followers to blame.

We act like we have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

Instant gratification

is a weak manifestation.

Let’s build a strong foundation

for the next generation.