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.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it is mesmerizing in a bad way...this poem really says it all...we have become reality tv fanatics.

we are worse than paparazzi...intruding on the private lives of stars and ordinary people, yet they put it out there for us to see.

damn i miss all the good old westerns, and cop shows we grew up with...when tv was entertainment, not voyeurism.

this is really poignant to today, Mark.

and as i say this i am listening to a cable station's music...all 60's songs...blissful listening.

4th stanza is my favorite.

jacob

[Mark]

Thanks and I agree about the old westerns and cop shows and would just add my personal favorites, Star Trek and Twilight Zone! :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Rod Serling had such a bizarre mind...there were so many classic episodes of Twilight Zone, yes.

[Mia]

People send hours and hours wasting their lives away watching TV and sometimes we're all a little guilty. Great write Mark.

"Poison food and drink, shown to us
by white teethed, air brushed
sun children while we wait,
passively, the next stupidly famous."

Brilliant lines!

[That_Girl]

I watch the good shows, so I have an excuse. ;) lol just kidding

Great poem that I think can be geared towards adults and children alike in different aspects.

[Mark]

Thanks Avy ;)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Mark you cinic!!!! Nah I agree with every sentiment expressed in this work and love the closing line as it says so much about the superficiality of it all.

[Mark]

Thanks John :)

[Steven]

Great lines man.

"Fervently we pray to the flat glow
for something we can
talk about at work;
and post on our walls."

It's like that. And I think of something when I turn zombie in front of the static glow. Is this some evolutionary throwback to our obsession with fire?

[Mark]

It is a little like staring into the flames of a campfire isn't it? Thanks for your thoughts. :-D

[eglantine]

I actually don't really watch TV. I think the reality shows, especially those, are ridiculous and it makes me depressed about what kind of entertainment influences our culture. I prefer running about creating mischief and writing--undulating my own mind through pages and streets.

[eglantine]

i do have netflix though... and my guilty pleasure is Glee lol

[Claire Twinn]

This sums up all the studity of tv and people's reasons for watching it, I love the description 'flat glow' too.

[Stanley Wilson]

exellent work mark really enjoyed it