Veal Viewers

cute contented calves chained
to their white plastic houses
arranged on a grid
in a field
by the back road along my way
ignorant of plans
to slice their throats
before puberty

focus in on red, blue and green
pixels on a TV screen
another field where the chains
are just as secure if not as visible

sofa sitting citizens sip
drunk on
TV reality shows

producers pour over numbers
seeking patterns to squeeze
emotions and dollars
from commodified people

another way for the conglomerates
to beat unions
exploit the lowest common denominator
an amateur willing to do anything
to have the focus of
the mass media spotlight
beam down on them

an audience identifies
with unknown strangers like themselves
whose destiny is in the click of their remote
or a phone call vote away
their mental health
measured in redial

presidential politics play
second fiddle to fans
fixated on favorites
who sink or swim each week
if performances fail to impress

family friends and hometowns
combined in collages
value added images
personal habits codified
icons for imitation in
individuals who have anchored hopes
on their progress in the program

please pull the plug on
terminal television
identity crisis building drama
is not a way of life
but a way to hide
inside the lives of others

seek strength within yourself
outside the need for approval
a vote of one is sufficient to
shatter idol images of control
seek self satisfaction


©polarpaul 2006