The Newspaper Paywall

I gave up dodging paywalls, cuz I wanted to support

Journalists both great and small and not their income thwart.

So now I have subscriptions to their digital details,

But cyber presentation can send me right off the rails!

Just as I’m about to read a story of intrigue,

A platform jumps before me for an item I don’t need.

Searching for that little ‘x’ to close the window box,

I somehow manage to wind up way off in the boondocks.

And when I manage to get back to what I want to read,

A video pops up with such alarming noisy speed.

Then they want a survey or insist on showing graphs

That on my laptop screen look more like stumbling giraffes.

I used to spill my orange juice upon my paper, which

Didn’t cause a problem, but when I had made the switch

To online news I found out that my keyboard would get stuck

From just a little citrus juice no matter how I struck.

I face a keen dilemma -- do I stick with online news

So I can read the writers that espouse such noble views?

Or do I take the easy way, retreating to my den --

Where I can watch the dreck they serve on Fox or CNN?


******************************************

from the lumber room:

My bank has gone missing for days.

It’s not where I left it always.

I guess it’s a crime

for nickel and dime

To be all the income I raise.

The crooks are transparent these days;

Their internet heists do amaze.

But cops and their stats

Keep it under their hats --

They’d rather have nothing but praise.