A First on TV -- David Ignatow

Guest poem submitted by Bryan Bowen

(Poem #1202) A First on TV This is the twentieth century, you are there, preparing to skin a human being alive. Your part will be to remain calm. -- David Ignatow

I read this poem in "The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart", edited by
Robert Bly, James Hillman, and Michael Meade.  It was written about
complicit TV anchors whose denial takes the form of cool detachment
while presenting horrific news.

If it has a connection to the last submission (Poem #1201), it's
probably simply reflecting the flip side of our desire for attention.
The population is adopting the news anchor's coolness.  It's no longer
possible to react to news of another war or massacre with the same
outrage as the first.  This poem exposes and criticizes that tendency
to hide, resigned to our own voicelessness, knowing that somehow the
lack of voice is allied with murder.

Bryan

Links:
  [broken link] http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?45442B7C000C010C01 has a biography and
more poems by Ignatow