National Poetry Month Day 1: “To Sell Sweetie” by Barbara Jane Reyes

To Sell Sweetie

Sweetie“Sweetie” is a digital decoy designed to trick perverts into thinking they’re having webcam sessions with a real live 10-year-old Filipina. In just two months, researchers were able to identify 1,000 people who offered money to the fake profile in exchange for sex acts. According to the Netherlands-based children’s rights group Terre des Hommes, who developed Sweetie, the decoy was approached by nearly 20,000 people…
– Jezebel.com, November 5, 2013

Sinless Sweetie sells self
Sweetie sells cyborg sex

Sweetie strips schoolgirl sexy
Sassy Sweetie submits sugar

Circle swoop score Sweetie
Spread Sweetie, savor Sweetie

Soft Sweetie, siren Sweetie
Spank Sweetie, sully Sweetie

Slit slanty slyph Sweetie
Sweetie’s starving, save Sweetie

Simply sumptuous, Sweetie sins
Sweetie satisfies, Sweetie serves

–Barbara Jane Reyes

Editor’s Note: The above image of Sweetie is taken from this story at NPR.

Share
Tweet
Share

Original poetry published by The Rumpus.

You May Also Like

The Rumpus publishes original fiction, poetry, literary humor writing, comics, essays, book reviews, and interviews with authors and artists of all kinds. Our mostly volunteer-run magazine strives to be a platform for risk-taking voices and writing that might not find a home elsewhere. We lift up new voices alongside those of more established writers our readers may already know and love. We want to bring new perspectives into the conversation that will make us all look deeper.

We believe that literature builds community—and if reading The Rumpus makes you feel more connected, please show your support! Get your Rumpus merch in our online store. Subscribe to receive Letters in the Mail from authors, join us by becoming a monthly or yearly Member and/or make a tax-deductible donation here.

We support independent bookstores! 10% of sales on any titles purchased through our Bookshop.org page or affiliate links benefits the magazine.

The Rumpus in your Inbox!
The Rumpus
© 2023, The Rumpus.

The Rumpus needs your help. We need to raise $25,000 $3,100 to fill our funding gap for 2024.

Our home base is Asheville, NC and Hurricane Helene severely impacted our ability to host events, launch new initiatives, and caused other significant financial setbacks this fall.

Can you support us at any level by Dec. 31? Every dollar counts and is a sign that our readers collectively value creative labor and independent publishing.

YEs, I'd like to help!

Sign up for the weekly Rumpus

Once a week, we'll send you a roundup of what's new on the magazine, invites to upcoming events, open calls for submissions, and more!

Total
0
Share