A truth-teller, I once suggested;
a decade or so ago that one may have been plagiarised—the online trauma tourists clamoured like crabs over that one—
cue the pile on.
We know copycats exist, unashamedly
lifting our aesthetic without due credit; imagine they’re all now purring over AI. Somebody once said: if you can fake sincerity, you’ve got it made—well, good luck with that. I’ve since
created some
space
digital boundaries in place — a self-loving
thing to do. And, since it’s too salty
for some, to observe one be so bold
as to stand up as a woman for
Women’s Equality—vocal beyond
International Women’s Day. And don’t
mention the war! Compassion for
European neighbours: “garden” versus
“jungle” reportedly more palatable. Truth
is, we are the Global Majority.
Charming Gen Z student, from
community café talked about meta,
how we are much better off
without it—if we must, then just
dip in. I’m still learning how to swim
further from the shallow end, and
the sly algorithm. Narked by them
who claim to identify with the
working class—occupying space
in prole lit zines seems permissible for privileged scribes with inherited
safety nets, boasting worthy CVs and
borrowed struggle.
I recall warm offers from thirsty
clout-chasers, when short-listed for
this or that thing, dissipated when
cold, hard grief stilled you from
throwing your hat into the ring…
Greater discernment brings gradual relief—
it’s more peaceful in the deep.
***
Susan Evans
Photo credit: Richard Hume
Susan Evans is a socially engaged spoken word artist, educator and campaigner — straddling stage and page she is featured in a variety of publications. She hails from working-class, multi-cultural East London, and lives and writes in her spiritual home of Brighton, Sussex UK.
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