Reposted by Carmen Barefield
"Like a game of snake / an ouroboros on an old Nokia. Those invincible / bricks, where did they go? Other than swallowed / up deep inside, of course. Bit by micro-bit."
- @carmenbarefield.bsky.social
voicemailpoems.org/2026/02/04/d...
![Social Skills Training
by Solmaz Sharif
Studies suggest How may I help you officer? is the single most disarming thing to say and not What's the problem? Studies suggest it’s best the help reply My pleasure and not No problem. Studies suggest it’s best not to mention problem in front of power even to say there is none. Gloria Steinem says women lose power as they age and yet the loudest voice in my head is my mother. Studies show the mother we have in mind isn’t the mother that exists. Mine says: What the fuck are you crying for? Studies show the baby monkey will pick the fake monkey with fake fur over the furless wire monkey with milk, without contest. Studies show to negate something is to think it anyway. I’m not sad. I’m not sad. Studies recommend regular expressions of gratitude and internal check-ins. Enough, the wire mother says. [ran out of space. poem also here: https://tinyurl.com/sharifpoem]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qlmttkf54je7ie22kz7oymca/bafkreigd6yv4wvtxd2uwuzf27xbt62mpxep67ljta2edqmjeywqi7zfmhu)
