If I reveal it
Will they steal?
If I pour out all my joy
And all my sorrow
Will they borrow?
If I commit to word and print and page
Will they imitate?
If I churn out blood and thunder
Will they plunder?
If I throw my creativity
Out there for all to see
Will they thieve?
If I share my love and hate
Will they replicate?
And if these thoughts I generate
I then articulate and confide
Will they Plagiarise?
Will they pillage?
Will they pilfer?
Should they then be so inclined
But if I keep it under wraps
And bolt by lock and key
And no one ever sees
And no one ever reads
What use is that to anyone?
What purpose does that serve?
Save an affront to line and verse
So steal, plagiarise, thieve
Borrow, plunder, replicate
Shout it to the world
And lay small credit where it’s due:
For these murmured words I circulate
To the many
Or the few
21st April 2021