I was officially born in the 17th century,
My homeland was England,
They conceived me in coffeehouses,
My parents were many.
I was officially born in the 17th century,
When the crowns of Scotland and England united,
When James VI, King of Scots, ascended
To the throne of England as James I;
When civil wars between roundheads and cavaliers
Ended in Parliamentary victory,
At the Battle of Worcester.
My homeland was England,
At the time of Interregnum,
Commonwealths, Glorious Revolution,
William and Mary and the English Bill of Rights.
Reformation and proliferation of literacy,
People learnt to read the Bible then chose
To be curious and explore, secular literature
Overwhelming novels in circulating libraries.
They conceived me in coffeehouses,
Scattered around the city, throughout the country
And finally abroad, another Revolution,
On the other side of the Channel.
My parents were many,
They met at intellectual bacchanalia
In reading societies and clubs,
For that’s where News used to hang out.
Freely criticizing politics and governments
They engaged in conversations
In an environment of confrontation.
Social status set aside, to listen, exchange, judge,
Understand and comprehend.
Another William called me ‘mistress of success’.
Blaise thought I was ‘the queen of the world’.
Being well informed and debate in social networks
Was a duty before ever being a right,
As my parents’ opinion would guide the rulers,
In the interest not of few, not of many, but of all.
First heeded by governments, they quickly learnt
To manipulate me, muzzle and domesticate me,
Stripping me of my freedom and relevance,
With the unofficial excuse by which
My parents were too ignorant to even have a voice.
Now those coffeehouses have changed shape,
Intangible, virtual, ethereal they cover the globe,
New spaces for new parents, to develop new ideas,
Surf the worldwide web seeking truths.
I am my parents’ voice; my name is Public Opinion.