"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.

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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.

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