Thursday, January 26, 2012

The Descriptive Essay

Mack Hall, HSG
Mhall46184@aol.com

The Descriptive Essay

“Describe your favorite space,” he innocently asked,
And dutifully, in double-space, they wrote:

“My family and I watch our new flatscreen.”

“But what of microscopes and basketballs,
Guitars and wrenches and sewing machines
And sometimes fishing from the old sea wall,
Or planting a garden with corn, peas, and beans?”

“My family and I watch our big flatscreen.”

“What do you like to read, what do you sing?
Do you rebuild old cars, old houses, old souls?
What do you write on the first day of spring?
Do you like your job?  And what are your goals?

“The family and I watch our wide flatscreen.”

“Do you sometimes throw a football around,
Refinish furniture, or feed the birds,
Volunteer an hour at the local pound
Chant with the choir those sacred, ancient words?”

“Me and the family watch our big flatscreen.”

“Do you jam to the radio, rock that beat,
New Orleans jazz or upriver blues?
What sounds pick up your heart, your hands, your feet?
Saint-Saens or Satchmo – so who’s your muse?”

“The family and I watch our old flatscreen.”

And thus anaesthesia displaces art
The sons and daughters of great kings and queens
From their ancient heritage now depart
And bow obediently before flatscreens.

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