The B**b Tube

what? me worry?

Watching humanity's train wrecks

we wish we could feel 

the collision of fame

meeting the stupidity of popular.

We order our senses

so that the latest

fad in pills moves

the back of our brains.

Poison food and drink, shown to us

by white teethed, air brushed

sun children while we wait,

passively, the next stupidly famous.

Fervently we pray to the flat glow

for something we can

talk about at work;

and post on our walls.

Forget having a dream,

Turn the channel and there..

you don't have to go anywhere!

We're here for your viewing pleasure.

Author's Note

I haven't watched much TV in the last couple years, when I do I'm fascinated; like passing by a wreck on the freeway, I don't want to look but I can't help myself.

Reviews

[lee von cleef]

I talked to a poet last night, Paz, Talked about surfing , on top of a train,Your poem puts me there too,a good spot,jumping wires ,ducking bridges,leaning into turns,waving at people ,locked in their cars,Others bound to a screen ,a remote foaming the curl of a wave,won't let them go ,ties them to a T V, two wraps and a hoo weee.There they will sit hour after hour,day after day,now its been ten years,twenty,T V is pretty layered in.

[spiritwind]

thankfully there are many who feel the same about TV
our imaginations would be better set alight by living

[MOON]

Great write and social commentary. TV is lovely, all flickering lights and other peoples dreams makes slobs of us .

[Ruth]

The beauty of mind numbing control ey? TV turned on and we don't have to do anything except become the zombies they want...
Life...I guess I would rather take it in and feel the anguish than be numb from TV...
Good piece love
xox

[de_maruf]

good

[mandy]

i only watch 3 sitcoms..i'm a sucker for them,,,and nascar races, some hockey...a little music....but some people are addicted to the big screen b**b tubes. good write

[Leslie Philibert]

Great poem, good subject, a subject one could talk endlessly about. One could argue that television informs, but what do we do with this flood of information ?
One could talk about the way it damages culture, but the new media T.V and internet enable contacts too. Anyway, a fine poem that made me think a lot.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

I really enjoyed your witty, social commentry in this succsinct, nicely worded poem, thanks Mark.

[Mary]

I can't take television seriously at all, that's why I watch such comedies as "the Big Bang Theory." With very few exceptions, television is quite boring, and cannot hold a candle to even a mediocre book. But, for me, a silly comedy is an effective de-stresser for a high school teacher. I love your poem, however. Your portrait of "humanities train wrecks" is well written, and honest. And I might add, it is true that TV can take away one's dreams if one is passive.

[Mark]

There are so many things wrong now, taken for granted because we have this unspoken agreement between us all, fueled by marketing media which scientifically goes about molding our preferences. I find, though, that more and more people are waking up to the fact that 'what everyone knows' is not necessarily ideal. Thanks for the comments Mary. ;)

[Mary]

you are right on the money with that. I am appalled by the meanness that passes for entertainment. Appalled and disgusted and saddened, because entertainment doesn't have to be that way.

[captain]

tv and its addicting shows, I'm a little guilty by that. I like this write.

[Dr. Wood ?]

I think you just about covered it....TV has become a drug, so much so that millions of people turn the set on and then go about their business in the house...TV companies look at the ratings and declare that their programmes are a hit...No-one really watches them, the TV is nothing more than company to the sad and lonely