Point of View

“The Facebook Sonnet” is told from an omniscient perspective of a speaker directly addressing the reader. The word “Let’s” is used repeatedly (Line 4) to create a connection with the reader and a sense of solidarity — the god-like speaker is saying, “We’re in this together.” Although the speaker can see into the minds, hearts, and iPhones of anyone, they convey an intimacy and faux trustworthiness that puts them and the reader on the same level. This narrative choice enhances the sinister tone of the poem as the speaker invites the reader to follow the cult social media trend and give all of themselves to “public domain” (Line 11).

Language and Meaning

Despite the poem’s formal structure, the language is clear and accessible. The speaker uses contractions and colloquialisms along with language the 21st-century reader would be familiar with. Words like “exhume” (Line 7) and “intertwine...