The Algorithm Knows

The algorithm knows what you want to see.  

It plants the seeds, waters them, waits.  

Your friend—let’s call her Katherine—clicks Like 

on a post about Britain, Great, Again.  

Next time, it’s a video:  

men on boats, women in hijabs,  

the soundtrack a low hum of fear.  

Katherine watches. The algorithm smiles.  

The next one is angrier.  

Share.  

It’s not about you, Katherine says,  

you’re different, you’re one of the good ones. 

Meanwhile, my sister holds her gaze across the dinner table,  

her Polish boyfriend silent.  

Meanwhile, my spine aches, my hands shake,  

and the next post says  

no benefits for those who can’t pull their weight.  

Meanwhile, my friends say  

they love me, but click Like on those who hate me.  

Katherine shrugs. It's just politics.  

It’s just the news.  

It’s just a joke.  

It’s just a little nationalism,  

just a little border-keeping,  

just a little less space for some of us  

to exist.  

And when they come for us, Katherine,  

when they knock on my door,  

on hers,  

on his,  

you’ll whisper my name but your timeline will be empty.  

There’ll be no one left to Like you.