Once, not too long ago,

there was joy.

A tone!

“you have mail”!

even the arts saluted.

Once, not too long ago,

there were old friends found

by search engines brave.

I sent photos

to high-school buddies long lost.

Once, not too long ago,

the mail took a few brief moments

 to download.

But now?

Oh woe.

Like unwanted guppies my e-mail

has grown into a thorny mess.

Objects of every kind,

(living and non-living)

are promised to send me to bliss.

My ebay account needs my credit card number.

Banks that I didn’t know I had an account in

wish to return my money.

A person in Africa wishes to make me rich!

Secret messages fall into my lap.

And so, I sing this lament.

I sing it to ebay,

who tells me that it’s not really so bad.

I want to sing it to the law-makers,

but they are too busy.

So,

Lucky you.