Saturday, June 14, 2014

the world of television and beds

no, i promise, it is still wonderful. in the world of television and beds
young people are not animals, never slaves. They are free.

Let me give you an example:

today you watched Futurama
from two a.m. to two p.m.
with a slight instinctive unease:
the stickiness of your blanket to your knees,
a growing warmth in your pillow case.
But you persevered
and kicked those school papers off your bed,
struggled mightily to continue doing nothing, kept your feet
from hitting the warm nut-jungle air
of your room. You stayed under your blanket.
If you think that was a good time
I think I heard your stomach rumble just now:
or anyway,
I remember that it's there.
Now:
a greasy tub of off-brand cheese doodles,
Totino's Pizza Rolls,
Hot Pockets
not Chinese food, because you will have to
get out of bed
and meet someone new.
You know what's good for you:
You'll keep your cheesy fingers off your crusty keys, partner  
You let those episodes roll along uninterrupted and

"mmmmm," how your nose will delight
As your stomach slowly roasts under your laptop battery.

Now doze.
Repeat. Futurama is in it's third season
but what season was it in when you started?
your legs are swimming in sweat like dead porous whales
and the old urge to accomplish adulthood rises in you
like a lesser man's gorge at the sight of your bed.
can you overcome your self? can you overcome me?
it is your choice: no bell will ring to tell you to shower,
to eat, to sleep, to move, to achieve. You will have to do it yourself
no one can do it for you, and unless you ask no one will help. So,
why don't we compromise; you can compromise your health and I will too. Meanwhile,
compose an e-mail to your psychologist
the title will be: "I still can't go to sleep."

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