The Chairman of the Bored
turns on the telly,
watches things hurtle against
each other for the sake
of a thing like a giant almond nut
they call a ball. Switch.
A high-pitched baritone
screams the news in French.
Click. Water shortage in…
he changes channels before
he can learn where, thirsty
already, Now here’s something:
Scottish detective on the trail of
he’s seen this one already.
Switch off. The big black screen
is dark, more interesting
than what it had once displayed.
It’s like a mirror, it shows
a dim vista of the room he’s in,
he sees himself in his chair,
things getting interesting at last.

14.X.22