A Boys Best Friend is his Big Screen

Who is it that goes for help
when little Timmy
has fallen down
the well?…
why it’s Timmy’s
best friend Phillips…
the 42” HDTV!…
‘good boy Phillips,’
says Timmy…
‘go bring help big fellah!’

who is it that does tricks
on the lawn for little Johnny?…
fetch a stick…
catch a Frisbee…
it’s Toshiba…
the plasma big screen…
‘good boy Toshiba!’
grins Johnny…
‘go get it boy, go get it!’

who is it that is there
to wake your little bobby boy
in the morning…
and to keep him up
late into the night?…
why it’s that family pet…
the one you now regret…
that has taken over
your boys very soul…
that abomination
you call a television set…

you reflect in horror
at all those hours
they spend
in it’s glowing embrace
showing it love
and their complete attention…
the watchers watching…
the 2600 reruns of Star Trek…
the 1865 reruns of Stargate…
the hours of Sliders,
FarScape and
Everyone Loves Raymond…
Infomercials and Springer…
24 hours a day
it comes their way…
their pet is always there ready…

the world spins round…
time marches on
as they sit dazed…
ignoring school work…
side stepping chores…
disregarding personal hygine…
missing meals…
to live in the dark…
Timmy is huddled inside…
sharing a childhood
with a boys best friend…
his Big-Screen buddy…
his TV…

afraid of the sun
and the heat…
afraid of the dirt
and the bugs…
afraid of the animals
and plants…
the spiders and snakes…
repulsed by the thought
of the great outdoors…
nature gives him
the creeps…

a perfect excuse
to spend time…
all their time…
destroying their mind…
drawn like
a moth to a flame…
staring mouth agape…
drool hanging from
a little boys chin…
at commercials, videos,
sit-coms and movies…
absorbed in their pets
as their bodies and minds
wither with atrophy
and apathy…

it’s no longer Lassie
that sits by a boys side…

who is it that will go for help
when little Timmy
has fallen down
the well?…
why it’s Phillips…
the 42” HDTV!…

you bet…

©R. C. Arquette
5/11/05