And now a word from our Sponsers

Even football Sunday feels like one long commercial. Have we no shame? If we did we would bottle it up and sell it too.

And now a words from our Sponsers

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

"Consumerism is at once the engine of America and simultaneously one of the most revealing indicators of our collective shallowness."- Henry Rollins

I'm not one to rant and rave

But lately I've been a bit depraved 

Taco bell has something new

That drips with cheese and some weird goo

And I just heard that Burger King 

Has slashed its prices on union rings

McDonald's has chosen not be out done

By adding new toys in their boxes of fun

But despite these improvements I must confess 

I'd rather eat fake Chinese food at Panda Express

Did you hear Walmart had a sale on Preparation H

Two for a dollar what an incredible rate!

Also 4 boxes of Massengill for 2 bucks; I must say

Too great a deal to pass; despite not having a vajayjay.

Welcome to the world of commercial success 

I know all the jingles to make you depressed 

So let us laugh and sing as the world burns down 

As corporations numb us with their dancing greedy clowns

 

Author's Note

My muse Cate took the weekend off because she hates American Football as she calls it. And I told her good because I hate European football which we yanks call Soccer because we despise it so. She made me regret saying those words so I'm here to apologize for my heathen ways as she so eloquently describes. And now a word from our sponsors....

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I like this satire on commercialism and greed. It made me smile. And of what worth is a poet if we can't poke at and point out the evils of society upon occasion? I don't intend that should be our sole obsession but in general, we poets are most often obsessed with life and the living of it. I'm a student of everything and a constant observer. Thank you for the smile. F.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Fabian for the kind words on this piece. I agree as a writer one should never be complacent in their content. Let inspiration take you where she will. I am eclectic because of that sole reason. Variety challenges a writer and allows them to better hone their skills and style. I couldn't tell a joke to save my own life but I have submitted comedic pieces. All these many genres are ours to touch on it would be a shame if we didn't take advantage of them to improve upon our skill set. Now not every piece will hit the bullseye but it's not meant to for it's all about the journey. Thank you again for your thoughts.

[Shelley Warner]

That was a fun poem. It brought laughter to me. And your author's note makes me smile too.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Shelley it was a little satirical write on a serious problem in our society. Sometimes attacking the point of a problem with a cap gun and glitter is more direct and eye opening than trying to scare people to death with the truth. If I can get a giggle and momentary thought on the subject then I will settle for that. Thank you so much again for your thoughts.

[Shelley Warner]

Yes, consumerism has a dark side for sure. And we've depended so much on other countries, in order to save money on production, that now we find ourselves in a fix. We can do without toys and tv's but it's not good to run low on some meds.

[Gee]

Made me chuckle.The world today is a 2 for 1, eat as much as you can, get it now rat race, with many folk living in a " me, mine, my" bubble without a care for those with nowt.
Good morning

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Gee for the nice comment on this poem. I totally agree with your words. Wish we could be less selfish. These big companies get away with way too much stuff against us. Thank you again.

[Debra K Middaugh]

I f*****g Love it. WOW What can i say that was AWESOME!!!!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you again Debra. Watching all those commercials on TV can Inspire a bit of humor and irony from their destructive nature. Thank you again.

[barleygirl]

I have not had access to TV for most of my life. I did have TV for a few years when I first became disabled, thinking there was nothing left to do but lay around & die in front of the TV. But then I decided I'd rather live than watch TV, so I cut off my satellite service 2 years ago, intending to avoid the run-up to the 2020 election. My life has changed DRAMATICALLY since I did this. So if your life is still inundated with commercials, you could change all that (((HUGS)))

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

You definitely are right. Especially these last few years I have consumed so much news. I'm starting to cut back now by watching less. In a strange way it's as addictive as any drug. I need to break the cycle of violence against my mind by these news media corporations and their damn commercials too. Who needs Halloween when I live a horror story everyday by watching this stuff. If I don't moderate my consumption I'm going to need a straight jacket soon. Fruity for coco puffs....fruity for coco puffs..see it's already happening to me! I need to spark up a spliff and I have only smoked herb 2 times in my life! I need to find my chi and center myself, or I'll be losing my s**t all over again.

[Pete]

most of the time i feel as though television is about commercials with an occasional, tiny, tidbit of an actual show. this made me laugh despite being a sadly true commentary. i often think the same such thoughts about things. go out and stuff yourself with junk then go to the hospital drive-thru for an angioplasty. never underestimate the power of capitalism or the gullibility of american consumer. you forgot the 7-eleven big gulp diabetic thirst quencher. ... :)

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Pete for your thoughts on this poem. Omg I could still remember the uproar over large size big gulps and sodas a few years back. As if it made any difference from dying a slow diabetic death or a fast one. McDonald's felt so guilty they shrank the size of their larges size sodas. So dumb. I am in total agreement with your thoughts on capitalism though ours here in the US is more a greed based form of it. Though it's hard to imagine it not being greed based at all because humanity is prone to abusive nature eventually.

[Betty Hermelee]

Great insight into our corporate world, and you chose the right sponsors. But what's even worse are the commercials for every disease on the planet... and not one consumer can understand what they're for!!! Worse yet, after they tell you how wonderful it is, then they give the deathly side effects. Good thing we have silencers on our TV's... great job Carlos.
Best, B

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you B for your thoughts on this piece. Yes they are the worst. They get us addicted by their poison then use the money to buy political power so they are not held to account for what they have done to us. They are the absolute worst.

[Betty Hermelee]

Agree 100% !

[Terry]

I liked the insightfulness this piece brought onto consumerism while also maintaining a bit of playfulness to the words (I laughed too hard when I got to vajayjay not gonna lie lol).

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

If you think that's funny I just submitted a short screed that is hilarious or may be offensive. I'm either going to be hated or given the side eye for the humor in it. Its a piece of Halloween horror in jest.

[Terry]

Awesome I'm going to read it right now!

[Titilayo Sarah Eguridu]

I was deeply conflicted as I read on
...to be or not to be?
Then the voice of reason took over,
What does it profit a man to buy the whole world and loose his soul?
We are loosing the very essence of living daily as our wants become kings over our lives and rewards the cooperations for the snazzy adverts.

Few words with punchy impact.
Fantastic

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for reading this piece. I really liked your comment because it reflects the reaction I was hoping for. The reader to be conflicted, because the theme of this writing conveys an important message. The power of capitalism based on greed and corporations with killing their consumers without really facing much accountability. Like big pharma selling addictive drugs, or tobacco industry selling cancer. Talcum powder laced with cancer causing chemicals, dog food laced with poison. Or junk food laced with so much artificial preservatives and chemicals we become addictive to their slow death products that are a health hazard to us. Heart disease and cancer the leading statistical deaths in the US can be traced directly to what we consume. That is what corporations sell us...a slow death. But they sure have amazing marketing with their addictive jingles and enjoyable commercials. Thank you so much again for your thoughts on this poem.

[Titilayo Sarah Eguridu]

It’s a brilliant and informative piece.
Thank you for sharing.
Keep writing ...

[John the Baptist]

Well, consumerism certainly has its downsides, but for some reason many people from various countries risk everything just to get here and enjoy it. Also, being vajayjayless myself, I have never felt the need to invest in Massengill, though I have known some ladies who needed to.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you JP for reading and commenting on this submission I really appreciate it. Got to hand it to corporations they sure know how to advertise stuff that is killing us slowly. From cancerous cigarettes back in the day, to talcum powder that does the same thing. Their addictive jingles are as addictive as the poisonous food they sell us. Consumerism literally is the death of us. Our bodies are filled with so much artificial preservatives and chemicals that we don't even need to be embalmed anymore once we die. Now that is scary.