photographs

people in olden days
would not agree to be photographed
said it would reduce your life

and we scoffed at them,
no, tantra mantra
and voodoo don't exist,
we said
that's just for foolish people
who think they can draw images
and speak some mumbo jumbo
and do harm to others

but then,
doesn't it take the life out of your life
to be defined, stereotyped, and
remembered for ever
by your image
instead of
by your personality?

no, taking a photograph
does not take minutes or seconds
off of your life

but look at what we see
on newspapers
do we not forever remember one person
by what we see on the page?

we do not bother to find out
about who they are,
beyond that one particular image

all the more true
for th age of social media today
any photo you post today
will mark you for the rest of your life

and every person you meet thereafter
will come to you with the preconceived notion
of who you are
from images taken at
either happily choreographed moments
or unhappily wrested from you during
accidental moments

who you are
what your life is
doesn't matter
bause people will have
images to prove
who they think you are

and the more images out there
the more fragmented your personality
and the more proof people have to claim you who you are
(think Meghan Markle)

and you can try your best
but you will never convince people
that you have a life
beyond those photographs

no, taking a photograph
does not take minutes or seconds
off of your life

but the essence of your life?
now that is another question altogether