Change the Channels

Pushing that “power” button

does not make me feel strong;

it makes me look around and see

the ways my life is wrong

If ads are indications

of how it ought to be

then junk food should be all that goes in

my well-dressed, perfect body

My house should be all sanitized

and smell like summer rain;

I should flash a bright white smile

and never use my brain.

They know that average people

can’t live up to such discretion

so every other ad is for

a drug to cure depression.

Reviews

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

You certainly nailed it... an hour of TV is 35 minutes of TV and 25 of commercials, thank God for the DVR

[Rita L. Sev]

Netflix keeps me sane... Thanks, Dale.

[kublakhan27]

Awesome ending...you set it up perfectly, taking us through the mire of materialism and dropping us off at the irony of those "other ads" that make the pills as fashionable as the all the less substantial goodies you outlined beforehand...one can certainly detect a cycle taking motion here...a great and thoughtful work my friend, great rhyming as well :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, K - you said it - they make those pills "fashionable", after selling us a bunch of stuff that looks good but makes us feel terrible...

[kublakhan27]

Amen to that Rita...I am familiar with this cycle, but it's the most tolerable cycle of the ones that are available to me...

[shallimarRose]

I LOVE THIS Rita.. Mom I was just talking about this same thing.. You are right.. If they would stop making us feel so less then perfect maybe we would need less drugs to fight off that depression that comes with not feeling good enough.. ~or~ perhaps that was their intentions all along.. nice poem.. xo

[Rita L. Sev]

I think you hit it on the head... that is the intention. Keep us scared and we'll consume more... Thanks, Rose.

[shallimarRose]

you are very welcome Rita.. xo

[Marie]

Well, watching TV is depressing in the first place...

[Rita L. Sev]

Yes it is. Thanks for reading, Marie!

[Im His Daughter]

mmm don't you know it. great write. :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, IHD. Those ads take their toll!

[Frieda P]

Jaysus, so true! You always take the truth and write it so it smacks us over the head with brilliance, another great read from your pen Rita!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Frieda! Sometimes I need to smack myself and say, "Are you really seeing this?"

[Frieda P]

I know exactly what you mean, unfortunately kids are really swayed by what they see on TV as if it's written in stone...I hear them talking at school and I can't believe the stuff they come out with sometimes...

[Tom]

Subliminal consciousness is the theory they base this on, so proves your poem's point further Rita, adverts are hard to avoid and often spoils the continuity of a good T.V. programme one may be enjoying!

Inventive, a good food for thought poem indeed !

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Tom. TV drives me crazy anymore...

[Tom]

Me too, thank goodness for W.C. !

[Jack...]

Indeed you are correct. Have you ever taken the time to listen to the side effects of these medications they are pushing. Sheesh, this could maybe perhaps sort of, if you're lucky cure your depression but the side effects will be diarrhea and constepation, your eyes could cross, fingers could fuse together or death. I think I will just read Rita's poetry, if that can't cure my depression, nothing will.

[Rita L. Sev]

Ha! I know - those side effects are not worth it! It is funny, if you are not the one who needs the drug...

[Angel]

And every day it seems there is yet another one of those ads that tell you "if you or a loved one has taken (insert new drug here) and you've experienced (insert variety of horrible side effects here) or you are dead, just call the law office of Dewey Cheatum and Howe, and we'll get you an enormous settlement!
Makes me scared to take even so much as an aspirin! Yes, even your daily multi-vitamins could leave you scarred for life!
Adorable poem...and so true...

Right now, my place smells like brownies. The perfect cure for depression...

[Rita L. Sev]

Ha! Yes, those lawyer ads... Ugh! Thanks, Angel! I like walnuts in my brownies... :)

[Baby Ricochet]

Funny poem. Our place smells like roach spray and hair products.

[Rita L. Sev]

Ours is more like old papers and dog... Thanks, Mark