Still from 2001: A Space Odyssey‘Surveillance, Twenty Twenty’ and Other Poetry by Joe Tessitore The Society January 6, 2020 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 8 Comments Surveillance, Twenty Twenty I never thought I’d live to see my TV looking back at me! One Nation, Divisible How long have I heard about ______their lies? How they weaponize and ______polarize? How they demonize and ______patronize? How quickly now I can ______recognize And how very much I do ______despise The laundered brains of the ______other guys! The Coarsest Thread We are indeed a tapestry, all woven by the Hand Divine. These brilliant threads right next to me, My job it is to make them shine. Joe Tessitore is a retired New York City resident and poet. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 8 Responses Mark F. Stone January 6, 2020 Joe, I laughed out loud when I read the first poem. Nice work! Mark Reply Sally Cook January 6, 2020 Joe – Both clever and sharp, as always! Reply Joe Tessitore January 7, 2020 Thank you both, very much. Reply Joe Tessitore January 7, 2020 Thank you both, very much. Reply D Robin January 7, 2020 Thanks Joe for these witty pieces. Years ago, the cumbersome, bulbous-belly, phospher-screened, cathode rays tube TV was called ’the one-eyed god in the corner’. As time went on, we got the flat screens like picture frames called ‘black mirrors’. Both allude to the watcher being observed. The reality was that it was the watcher watching. Only our willing participation in (hand-written) market research gave away our watching habits or personal information. Now we have the two-way mirror in the room or on our wrists or in our pockets and bags. And your couplet also alludes to recordings of our lives thrown at us as news or entertainment. And all with 20/20 clear, digital vision. A lot in that neat pack. Great parallel structure on the second one revolving around ‘How’. Expectation that is deviated from. A mainstay of comedy (he he). Is there a typo in the last poem, the cap M at the beginning? Or an intimation that the speaker is God or a minor One? Not sure of the mood of the last poem. Reply Joe Tessitore January 7, 2020 The capital M is indeed a typo. The mood of the last one for me is inspirational. I’ve been blessed lately by the company of two professional ballerinas that attend our Church. In addition to being remarkably talented and dedicated to their art, they are young women of profound faith, and it’s a thrill for me to be around them. I guess, in a way, it’s like seeing Creation at its best. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 8, 2020 Harsh truth meets wit in topical poetry that says everything with a wry smile. Wonderful! Reply Joe Tessitore January 8, 2020 Thank you Susan, very much! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Mark F. Stone January 6, 2020 Joe, I laughed out loud when I read the first poem. Nice work! Mark Reply
D Robin January 7, 2020 Thanks Joe for these witty pieces. Years ago, the cumbersome, bulbous-belly, phospher-screened, cathode rays tube TV was called ’the one-eyed god in the corner’. As time went on, we got the flat screens like picture frames called ‘black mirrors’. Both allude to the watcher being observed. The reality was that it was the watcher watching. Only our willing participation in (hand-written) market research gave away our watching habits or personal information. Now we have the two-way mirror in the room or on our wrists or in our pockets and bags. And your couplet also alludes to recordings of our lives thrown at us as news or entertainment. And all with 20/20 clear, digital vision. A lot in that neat pack. Great parallel structure on the second one revolving around ‘How’. Expectation that is deviated from. A mainstay of comedy (he he). Is there a typo in the last poem, the cap M at the beginning? Or an intimation that the speaker is God or a minor One? Not sure of the mood of the last poem. Reply
Joe Tessitore January 7, 2020 The capital M is indeed a typo. The mood of the last one for me is inspirational. I’ve been blessed lately by the company of two professional ballerinas that attend our Church. In addition to being remarkably talented and dedicated to their art, they are young women of profound faith, and it’s a thrill for me to be around them. I guess, in a way, it’s like seeing Creation at its best. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 8, 2020 Harsh truth meets wit in topical poetry that says everything with a wry smile. Wonderful! Reply
