DROWNED

I'm drowned in the suburban neverland
there is no past no future
love has never been so lonely

I'm drowned in the river of monotony
no muses here but housewives
no poets but businessmen

I'm drowned in the comforts of technology
I'm drowned in my kitchen my bedroom my bathroom
my sofa my underwear my dishwasher
drowned in the world of things
where every poet is a shoemaker
I feel tired and I want to say LOVE
but it's a household word like a pair of socks
worn by Santa Claus on Christmas
I want to say stars but they turned to street lights
and traffic lights
there is no serenity without a policeman
no affection without a watchdog
old ladies watching television in prison cells
do I need a better brand of garbage bags
or is my mind garbage already?

I'm wearing my slippers and a bathrobe
how wonderful it is to have a big refrigerator
how wonderful it is to have clean windows
gee my father bought us a new toy to play with
an AT&T personal computer
what a wonderful way to contemplate the universe
I love computers they are so precise
I wish that every boy and girl could own a personal
computer
lovers smooching in the video arcade
computer dating the possibilities are limitless
maybe I will even get my own personal biorhythm and
astrology reading for a whole year gee whiz
America is so wonderful
shoveling the snow in winter mowing the grass in summer
masturbating all day long driving a big car wonderful
how often was I inspired by the groceries
maybe I will even make a video on MTV with healthy
American females all around me
maybe I will even shake hands with Mr. President
wow wee look at all the OPPORTUNITIES out there
I AM GOING TO BE A MILLIONAIRE
maybe I will write a new book on how to lose weight
there are a lot of fat people out there
Walt Whitman eat your heart out

or maybe I'll just sit here on the steps of my parents'
house and howl at the moon.

                                                 August 5, 1986
                                             --Alexander Shaumyan