ten o’clock blues
A wry summer-night poem blending troubling news, sport and everyday absurdity into the familiar rhythm of the evening broadcast.
summer is drifting
the clock strikes ten
and the cock crowed three times
through the window
i watch this media outlet
break with the story
the other other media outlet
is breaking –
the strife rampages
through the newsreel
easing in a blues dampened
by a few minutes of sport
(and a buoyant end)
a cat got stuck up a tree
in a leafy part of town
out of the branches
she was coaxed
by a smiling fireman
the small crowd cheered
the camera zoomed down:
“join us tomorrow evening”
the presenter beamed.
“good night.”
Back to Society, Power & Modern Life
More from the archive: