"Viewing Pleasure"
Once soft hands
now hardened
by disappointment and anger
are tight around the throat
of the world,
forcing it to breathe its last,
while we watch it live
on our transparently-wide televisions,
televised for our viewing pleasure,
a pleasure we paid for
with a multi-satellite phone call
and a colourless credit card,
waiting for an ad break
so we might piss
and make fresh popcorn,
the pause button
on our remote controls
only good for one touch,
and likely not un-pause
when our simple needs
have been satisfied;
we are stupid
but not that stupid.
We can wait,
and this curtain-closing show
will never be repeated.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Edward Lee's poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen and Smiths Knoll. He is currently working on a novel.