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jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

0 posted 2016-06-13 10:59 AM

Power Button

Whoa -
my stomach growled,
more felt, still heard,
even by my wife,
whom by airline standards,
sits four-seats
away.
Not far I know, but still . . .

We'd turned off our TV
this morning
because it was littered
with nothing but the same story,
news-channel wide -
the same story
of the last couple of days -
the same pictures,
videos, comments, faces . . .
the same commentators
with the same stoic looks
saying the same stoic words,
over and over and over, yet:
calling it Breaking-news!

Our mornings generally begin thus:
We wake up,
fight the urge to stay in bed,
go back to sleep,
mostly because we know
that's all it'll be - a fight -
one that will insure
Sandman will slam the door
in our faces.

Besides - the urge to urinate
is a very powerful thing.

So the morning rituals begin . . .
feet on the floor,
silent prayer-
sometimes louder
with the pain of joints
not wanting to move -
to Him above,
for the gift of life.

Then, the pleasure
of cleansing one's body
of overnight poisons,
stumbling to the kitchen
plugging in the coffee pot,
and falling into
our favorite chairs
before a still-sleeping TV
which almost instantly
notices our presence, and,
Turns On!

Then, with steaming coffee-cup in hand,
stoicism at it's finest!
Thank you manufacturing gods
for the power of the Off Button!

S i l e n c e

More Silence as our eyes meet
in awe.

Then . . . Is it raining?

No, honey, I think it's the breathing of our house -
without the TV drowning it out.

Whoa -
my stomach growled,
more felt, still heard,
even by my wife,
whom by airline standards,
sits four-seats
away!

And listen -
that's actually traffic on the freeway,
a number of blocks away -
an emergency vehicle in the background,
and that Mockingbird on the chimney,
what a song he sings . . .
But in the house . . .

Quiet, isn't it, I hear almost whispered.
Hmm-m.
Can we stand this?
I don't know - you ready for another cup?

And now to Breaking News, says the commentator
on the TV in his same, stoic fashion . . .

And we sit and listen,
with another steaming-cup of coffee
raising to our lips,
to the same story
of the last couple of days -
the same pictures,
videos, comments, faces . . .
the same commentators
with the same stoic looks
saying the same stoic words,
over and over and over, yet:

Life goes on around us,
things unheard, unseen.
Us, totally oblivious,
wondering Why,
there isn't more
than just the same
stoic-faces, voices, films,
and news -
on TV.

And by the way,
since it's such a disruption,
let's ban, the almighty

Power button!

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

1 posted 2016-06-13 12:50 PM

Ahhh . . . I hear you, buddy. I don't need that power button, I don't have TV, haven't had one for seven years. I get all the news I want from the Internet. TV news! I loathe it.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

2 posted 2016-06-14 05:01 PM

If you go far enough back it was the radio that distracted us, then the tv and now it seems to be internet and all powerful phones...still life goes on and we can choose to be distracted by these devises as much or as little as we choose..fine writing...james

Ari Squire
Member
Posts 488
In The Phallus Lane

3 posted 2016-06-14 11:08 PM

I like how you describe your morning 'rituals' Wesley. Many people connect with the "Power button", but few are outspokenly vocal about giving thanks for each waking day we have quite like you do. This to me, is where your poetry shines.

More feelings and fewer words please

LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

4 posted 2016-06-29 10:58 AM

this was not only a good read, but pleasingly entertaining....enjoyed reading you again....

JL
Member Ascendant

since 2004-04-01

Posts 6128
Texas, USA

5 posted 2016-06-29 03:41 PM

I'd never hit your off button, jw.
Powerful words, but I must admit:

"saying the same stoic words,
over and over and over, yet:
calling it Breaking-news!"

Yep! Like Jerry, I stick to the internet, and movies on DVD's...

Keep umm coming, bro!
Excellent write.

JL

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Maranatha!

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius

since 2009-10-10

Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere

6 posted 2016-06-30 07:51 AM

Always love reading you! This is no exception. I am forever turning off the TV. My husband is a news junkie and when he is here the darn thing is always on... ~L

Cari
Member
Posts 411
Englnand

7 posted 2016-07-01 09:27 AM

I read this poem as life without a purpose, the repetition of going through the motions without any end product for doing so. The end of the American Dream which remained for so many as just a dream.
Very good poetry and a good read.

Cari.

jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

8 posted 2016-07-03 12:13 PM

Thanks all for the read and views, and Cari, Nope, has absolutely nothing to do with "life without purpose" or "end of the American Dream" which is still alive and well.

Has everything to do with just what it talks about - the same rhetorical nature of news channels and how much better (it was) before TV in many ways (TV was brand new in my youthful days). And as for so many not getting more than a "dream" out of it, so very many got far, far more than "just a dream " out of it . . . and still do.

Appreciate your views.

j.

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