Morning Tv News Poem by RIC BASTASA

Nothing entertaining on TV
the struggle for political power
the shortage of water
the death of the anonymous
the burial of a corrupt politician
the arson with late firemen
the rising of prices
skyrocketing taxes
the accidents on the road
Iranians and church goers on rampage
deaths and more deaths
nothing about remedies
nothing about hope
the firecrackers soon stopped
the 4th of July feeling

breakfast of scrambled egg
and rice and
local coffee
no sugar
less salt
this obesity and strangled mind
there is a fly hovering
on the cold slice of beef
cold cuts and nothing green
like lettuce perhaps
something is wrong
i always think that something is wrong
from this corner to that edge
then the black out again
shortage of power
rising rates of electric bills
and water bills
lousy services

i turn the TV off
walk away from the table
sit on a chair
and watch the rising sun
i ponder upon all these
and i know
i can do nothing

i have this one last freedom
that any government cannot take
cannot abuse

this freedom to think
this freedom just to be myself
this solitude
this watching of the plants
growing freely
in the garden