Watching T.V. with Sandra and Maury

childhood memories told in the format of a Pantoum, which structures repetition

    We watched almost every night different programs: Perry Mason, Sargent  Bilko, Ed Sullivan, Sid Ceaser, I Love Lucy, Leave It to Beaver, Maverick 

Seated on the green couch me in between my parents in the little room we called the den 

If I wasn’t promptly present, I would be called from my bedroom to come join 

“Sherrie!”  my mother would call, “Marcel Marceau is on Ed Sullivan.  You like Marcel Marceau!” 

 

They wanted me seated between them on the green couch in the little room we called the den 

“I’m doing my homework,” I’d yell back.  “You can do that later,” my mother would yell 

“Sherrie!”  my mother would call, “Marcel Marceau is on now!  You like Marcel Marceau!” 

I’d take my place between them.  Early in the evening we would all be sitting up, facing forward 

 

I had been doing my homework, but my mother said, “You can do that later.” 

Someday I’m going to change my name to Logan, or Quentin, a stronger name than Sherrie 

I’d taken my place between them.  Early in the evening we’d all be sitting up, facing forward 

Later my parents would slouch diagonally piling their feet upon my lap 

 

Someday I'm going to change my name to Logan or Quentin, a stronger name than Sherrie 

When the news programs came on, I would become bored and uncomfortable 

By now my parents were slouching diagonally their feet piled upon my lap 

I was pinned and couldn’t change the station 

 

When the news program came on, I would become bored and uncomfortable 

If I got up to change the station, I would wake them and be sent to bed 

I was pinned and couldn’t change the station 

As a little kid I did not like Meet the Press or the eleven o’clock news 

 

If I got up to change the station, I would wake them and be sent to bed 

 I could not extricate myself from the pile of feet upon my lap without waking them 

As a little kid I did not like Meet the Press or the eleven o’clock news 

I liked stories whether dramas or comedies 

 

I could not extricate myself from the pile of feet upon my lap without waking them 

Not until I was older could I engage with the talking heads programs that came on late night 

I liked stories whether drama or comedy 

Then annually ecumenically we would watch all the Christmas movies that were shown 

 

Not until I was older could I engage with the talking heads programs that came on late night 

Of the weekly programs Perry Mason was probably my family’s favorite liked by all three 

Then annually ecumenically we would watch all the Christmas movies that were shown 

My parents’ favorite was clearly Boys’ Town while my favorite was Heidi 

 

Of the weekly programs Perry Mason was probably our agreed upon favorite  

Of the Christmas specials Boys' Town with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney captivated my parents 

My parents’ favorite was Boy’s Town while my favorite was Heidi 

My parents would be tearful and cry intermittently all through Boys’ Town 

 

Of the Christmas specials Boys’ Town with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney captivated my parents 

When Spencer Tracy would say “All a boy needs is a chance,” both my parents would burst out crying effusively 

My parents would be tearful and cry intermittently throughout Boys’ Town 

I sat quietly surrounded by their big reaction 

 

When Spencer Tracy would say “All a boy needs is a chance,” both my parents would burst out crying effusively volubly 

My uncomplaining parents had been through a school of hard knocks 

I sat quietly surrounded by their big reaction 

But one year my mother said to me, “The only thing you ever cry about is when they have to shoot a horse.”