[Newspoetry] diseased

[nicolle neulist]

diseased

"talk to your partner about mtv"
said the sign above the stairs
down to the subway station

i wouldn't say i had a partner
but i've talked to some significant people in my life about mtv
and we all agree
that for the most part
it's an insipid and mind-numbing waste of precious time

"3 out of 4 people have mtv and don't even know it"
said the sign along the side
of the speeding public bus

ask these three out of four people
the more pertinent question of whether they care that they have mtv or
not
and they'll all agree
that for the most part
they don't care as long as they mustn't deal with it

"many people with mtv still lead happy and productive lives"
said the sign along the wall
across the vacant subway track

note the success and happiness
and the functioning brains of the aforementioned three out of four
and all will agree
that for the most part
this majority qualifies as this 'many people'