Daily (Joni Mitchell–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Simple Wikipedia

God,
these screens are another kind of city—
paved in pixels,
crowded with strangers,
full of small blue windows
into other people’s skies.

When I start tracing
every polished square
against the sketch of my own life,
remind me that comparisons
are just another kind of smog.

Clear the air so I can see
where I really stand.

Protect me from trading
my own wild, crooked story
for somebody else’s filter—
from reshaping my face, my voice, my truth
to fit an algorithm’s idea
of what will “play.”

Teach me to map this territory
like a careful cartographer:
marking the cliffs of obsession,
the swamps of misinformation,
the quiet parks of beauty and insight
where I can rest a while
without losing myself.

Help me steward my digital presence
like a handmade song—
honest, layered,
open to change—
so that what I share
adds a little clarity
to someone else’s over‑bright day,
instead of more glare.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Joni Mitchell] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Joni Mitchell, and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)