They Fed Us Fear

They told us to stay inside

We listened, we did

They gave us reasons

Good ones

We believed, we accepted

Wear masks – Don’t touch – Keep away

From everything, each other

From ourselves

We listened, we believed

They had numbers, lots of numbers

On their side

They fed us fear

We ate

Fear of each other

Of ourselves

They showed us evil

Said

That’s you

Us

The exception they said

Is the rule

The two way street

Is one way

Don’t look back

Whatever

You do

Tolerate intolerance

Like that’s even possible

Stay silent

Wear your mask

Stay inside

Be afraid

Of each other

Of yourself

Fear the fear

The invisible danger

Believe

But don’t know

Trust

Don’t question

They fed us fear

We ate

They showed us evil

Them

 

-Edward Reed 2020