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The Nightly News vs. Sponge Bob

 

 


I switched channels today.

 

The Nightly News:
scraping the gutter of the world

for the 'fresh and new'
only to serve the odd and freakish
as the norm...


 

Now I asked myself,

are thousands of passenger jets

landing safely daily newsworthy,
or the one that crashed?

 


 

 

Which breaking story is more likely:

"This just in, 245 million safe automobile trips were made today."

or "Stay tuned, accident at eleven."

Cars are suddenly evil. Scandalous!

 



Since when are exceptions the rule?

 

Same with politics.

Now be honest, which do you see more in the news,

 

this:
 

 

or this:
 

and which do you think has more impact in Iraq?

 

Unfortunately, the flashy madmen,

if the media are our eyes, ears, and mind.

 

Consider children

playing healthily outdoors-
is that more newsworthy

than the one kidnapped by a psycho?

Nah!

The Nightly News Implies:
Keep all your children indoors- 
a psycho spree had taken the country by storm...

Yea, right! 
We are lulled to sleep

by the pinholed-paranoia of the media...

Micro-focused bloated sacks of media pus
distorting perceptions
clotting the brain;
I reach for the drain and pull the plug...
 
Where is our cynicism
when we really need it?

 

Currently the major media uses it’s talents

to sway feeble minded to the political Left.
Super!
Bludgeoning one's common sense into submission-
I'd bill them for the damages...

On the other channel,
Sponge Bob and friends...


 


I change the channel to the

 imagination station
(click...)

 


a surreal world, Sponge Bob...

so like the Nightly News....

tired eyes that do not strain
found beneath reborn stars
when I see Sponge Bob I feel again 

the wind blow through my dewy arms 
and forget Mr. News, and as he calls it,
the sting of rejection stabs his wallet...
 

Roses bloom again in spring
while Mr. Sponge Bob inspires his friends;
Mr. News waits in the wings

loathing what he cannot have
 
arriving here from nothingness
we watch, we think, we search for clues,

Sponge Bob continues to show the way,
answers found in crabby patties

cooked as well-done than the facts 
served up by the Nightly News...

I continue to watch, mesmerized,
not comprehending anything...

but as I sit and watch today

the bubbly sponge with pants and shoes
I catch an infectious optimism 
that plays against Mr. Nightly News...

Spongy shows us what he may;
I write him a letter: "You are OK!"
Such are formed my nightly views

between the Sponge and Nightly News...

Every face in Christendom
is fixed on Sponge as he profounds...
Patrick drools, and exclaims, 'Wow'! 
with the same blank stare as those of us
still in the trance of Nightly News...

Some would knock such children’s fare-
that no one lives under the sea,
that sponges do not have big eyes 
or optimistic philosophies...

Long live Sponge Bob!

Who needs Sponge Bob?
We need Sponge Bob!






We are supposed to believe 
Mr. fresh and new instead.



Pooie!


Not on my watch!

 

 



   Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? 

   Sponge Bob Square Pants!

   Absorbent and yellow and porous is he!

   Sponge Bob Square Pants!

   If nautical nonsense be somethin' ya wish

   Sponge Bob Square Pants!

   Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish!

   Sponge Bob Square Pants!

   Sponge Bob Square Pants!

   Sponge Bob Square Pants!

   Sponge Bob Square Pants!









Ah, I can see clearly now!


 

 


 

 

Author notes

...............................So what were you writing a year ago today?
(something more productive, I hope!)
My perception of the media is their microfocusing
and passing it off as the norm
in order to sell news or serve wishful thinking.
Either way they are engaged in distortion
while Sponge Bob beckons TRUTH and the ONE WAY on the other channel...

I recently glimpsed a sitcom
where someone switched the news to Sponge Bob,
so either the sitcom writer saw this,
or our realizations are parallel,
and growing... like a sponge...
Written March 15th, 2005

In a list

A contest entry

What did you think

    I plan to revise this poem: please leave constructive criticism!
    : , Your review:

    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
    • Line numbers  • Invite them to read
    : no Cost: 0 free left 0 points, You have (?)

Comments

1 - 43 of 43

  • Magic Bullet
    March 14, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    I'm don't normally find that poems that are fused with pictures work that well but this is the exception.


  • Bronwyn
    March 14, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    well...that was strong, long and to the point!!

    i must say..you make a lot of valid points!!


  • Dresden
    March 14, 2006
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    fucking love it, love spongebob, hate american news, you my friend are a genious enough said


  • heartnsoul
    March 14, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    Just let me ask first, is this left justified or centered. Because a lot of the text is lost in the border. Have to highlight to read.
    Tell me honest, did you do the pic? It's great! Haven't watched TV in eons specifically for the reasons stated.But I always did like his squirrely girlfriend! The worst part is, not only did I get it, loved it, but agree one hundred percent. Better yet, you have such a twisted, twisted soul....that I just gotta love and get more of! Good luck in the contest...You have to grab the gold with this one!
    ~Michelle~

  • sealover
    March 14, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    lol that is such a goooood poem! I love it! I love the background and the end too!! lol Well done
    It's fantastic:

    ~~seavoler~~


  • wtchr
    March 14, 2006
    Edit | Reply

    wtchrpr...4.0

    Always was a sucker for a good title. Came for the title, stayed for the poem. Very good content presented in a rather unique format. I appreciate the time you have put into this work. Provocative writing, good subject, catchy graphics...yep, I like this one.


  • Somebody-New
    March 14, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    this was very unique and refreshing. i choose spongebob over the news all the time! lol.
    that is an awesome pic of spongebob too by the way, lol.
    i really enjoyed reading this poem and i think you've done an excellent job

  • Yvette Champ gold member
    March 14, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    This is well written,you have certainly put a lot of work into expressing your point re the media and their portrayal of the news.I have never seen Sponge Bob but I understand the point portrayed nethertheless.Personally I would like to be informed of the bad news but wish they would feature good news in both the news on tv and in the tabloids or broadsheets.Wouldn`t it be great if we had a balance?My local radio station has just started a slot on friday tea time dedicated to listeners who would like to share good news...thats a small step in the right direction at least.Well done with your thought provoking philosophical write,love and light,Yvette


  • Touchof1der silver member
    March 16, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Gotta love this background babe! Sponge Bob is having a flipping good time. This is so cute. My daughter asked me last night if I had read it yet. A funny piece, Yay! But there's also a lot of truth here. I wonder how many attitudes would begin to change if we just doled out "equal" amounts of good and bad? A healthy balance of both. What a concept! Maybe I would begin to watch TV again. Something I haven't done in a great many years. Good luck in the contest, this is great!
    ♥ Kimberly

  • Empty-Soul 9079
    March 16, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Hey! I LIKE IT! but for poetry, it doesn't need to rhyme. I like your feeling for spongebob against the bias news. One of my favorite lines- my needles knit in unison a sweater of perception. wonderful use of wording in your piece. I babysit alot and they always watch spongebob, while i am cleaning up downstairs, watching the news. so, i totally understand the poem, and i am so happy to see that there really is youth today that care! so, anyway... wonderful job, and good pictures. O-one thing...i don't know if you want to but at the end, change it to "ah i can see clearly now" instead of again. I have a really dumb reason for it, but its becuase of that song "i can see clearly NOW the rain is gone, i can see all obsticles in my way" and after reading this, i put in "now" instead of "already" and it made me laugh, becuase that song gives hope, and from your piece, so does spongebob haha. So...good job! this deserves my applause!


  • everydaysunday
    March 16, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Wow, this is totally random. I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!! It's cute, and you got the point across. Although, my sister would probably deck you. (she loves Sponge Bob ) (10 year old)
    ¢¾ Eve
    Edited on Mar 16, 10:22 because ''.


  • x9Nocturnal9x
    March 16, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Hurray for sponge bob! I love that show lol..it's true it really is a beautiful and wanted break from all the hundreds of channels with news..it seems to be the good is always outdone by the bad..when one good thing happens it isn't filmed but when one bad thing happens it is..even if the turnout is good it is hardly mentioned..you brought up some wonderful points here and I'm really glad you used sponge bob as an example of the other option Bravo bravo!
    -Lis

  • pozo
    March 16, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Yay spongebob! I think you wrote really well here and used my lines and inspiration well Keep writing, this was a great poem which I liked a lot
    All the best,
    Thanks for entering,
    Pozo

  • chillwithbrett
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply

    sweet

    this is great! it actually makes a lot of sense to me too. lol. Spongebob is cool... half the time its the only decent show on TV. The news is way too pessimistic. You write freakin awesome.


  • -BlackKnight- gold member
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    LOL, very nice here; everything from the picture on the left, which got me laughing from the beginning, to the pictures sprinkled throughout this piece added a depth that, more often than not, words simply cannot match. Personally, I hate the media; I try to watch as little of it as possible. Nice poem, and great message.


  • wbiro gold member
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Thanks for the 'imagination station'- I might weave that in!


  • Piston gold member
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Sponge Bob for President!


  • Mystical-Gardenia
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply

    Good show!!

    Excellent very well done brava... refreshing unique a platform Jay Leno would certainly like to investigate "Sponge Bob turns, and gives Mr. News the finger...

    'The Sponge tells us to 'kiss goodbye to the lies'!
    I write him a letter:
    ‘I actually liked your new guy. He was OK!’
    Such is my illness...'" ... congrats what an imagination station!! Wishing you much success in all of your endeavors


  • LaKitKat
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Ok I like this poem I did not realize it was so long, I don't like Sponge Bob but this was a great write.
    keep up the good work.


  • FlawedDestiny
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    This was different I'll give you that. I would watch Sponge Bob anyday over the news myself. Good job on this, parts of it I didn't get but I can tell you put in a lot of work.
    ~*Destiny*~

  • SaralaAnne
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    ...LOL... ...Yeah...The news is always same ol' same ol'...But Sponge-Bob is Sponge-Bob...Enough said...Personally I'd turn the TV off...~~Shudders~~...Thank christ I don't have cable...What kills me is my whole family loves that show...I swear...It's brainwashing them...I mean come on!...Anyways...Enough about that...This was a great write...Keep it up... ~~Hey Kid Want A Nut

  • StarryEyesShine
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    You, Are My HERO!!!!!!!! I love Sponge bob, thank you for this peice.. Loved the cynical-ism sorry for the made up word there, but thanks, great peice.


  • A Smidgen Unhinged
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply

    Wow

    Wow... I receive all kinds of crazy images from that one! Both the news and sponge bob deeply efect me in the oppisit way... the news is bloody and graphic, and I'm always trying to figure out what sections they have taken the librity of editing out for the sake of entertainment... Sponge bob scares me becuase the program is hyper-stimulating, it leaves me to wonder what my childrens children will be watching... oh well...
    Thanks,
    Rose

  • dsfhsdjfgsdfgsfh
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Oh, it's definitley you again. I used to think spongebob was cool until I actually saw the movie, during which I lost all respect for him whatsoever. And as for the poem... "my needles knit in unison a sweater of perception." nice one.
    You ended in a freakin ~. Everyone knows the ~ key is reserved for people with "Dark" in their name only.


  • Simbelmyne
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Nice work. I'm glad I entered before I read this or I might have been scared away... Insightful as ever. And as usual, I thouroughly enjoyed it. Every last letter. Keep up the great work! As if you could do anything else. God bless and write on, Sim.


  • Overly Analytical
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Love the pictures, they made the poem seem like a story. Great job at changing topics or channels. Keep on writing!
    ~dani~


  • SexyAngel0418
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    LOL... This is a very good poem... It is very funny and I love spongebob!!! This poem caught my attention from the title and kept it!!! This poem is full of truths too... Good luck in the contest it is in!!!

    Beth

  • wbiro gold member
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    reply to Empty-Soul- your comment was not lost on me- I've edited it many times since then and actually have it rhyming here and there... thanks!
    Edited on Mar 15, 8:43 p.m. because ''.

  • Lil Wolfie
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    That was something. Never read a poem quite like this one. Excellent write, though! Sponge Bob scares me... >.O By the way, I LOVE the background!

  • UpsideDownFrown
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Poetry super but, "the failed Left?" The Project for Excellence in Journalism... 44% left, 52% right, 4% perfectly neutral buddy The myth of the Liberal Media was made up by the Conservative Media!


  • Lovely Luci
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply

    Bravo

    Okay, this was one of the oddest poems I've ever seen. And yet it's strangely cool. The pictures really add to the awesomness of the poem. Great message, and just so you know, Spongebob is going to die.


  • B Chandler
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    this is a good write but lol the picture itself just blew me skyhigh and away lol the title was an eye catcher but woooo that pic is just too funny!! good luck with the contest and have fun too

  • Empty-Soul 9079
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    I like your concern for our world today, but i didn't really see it as a poem.

  • social-chaos
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply

    Excellent

    AMEN!!!!!! No wonder so many people fall in to depression. I don't blame them!! The news media as we know it is no more than pessimistic trash. I don't want to hear about the latest star and their marraige tragedy. Who cares!!!??? But great job with this!!!
    and good luck in the contest!!
    "Long live spongebob"


  • adamanteve
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    I loved this, especially the background. The prefix "micro" got slightly repetitive but other than that I thought this was great, I really liked the form and the pictures that you placed throughout it to literally illustrate your point. Also I think in this line: "than the one than fell victim to a psycho?" the second than was supposed to be that.
    Awesome write, keep it up! And good luck in the contest, I hope this wins something.
    ... and where on earth did you find that picture of Spongebob flipping someone off?


  • Tetsuka
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    No kidding the media has been very odd, and all those focus groups cant they get a better life? good job.


  • Midnight Lace
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    This is really good. So much truth to this. Not to mention Sponge Bob is cute. I really liked this. You have a lot of talent and I love the artwork you use. You put a lot of time and effort into your poems and it shows through. Nicely Done
    Smoochie

  • Kyou-Monster
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    You are completely and totally right about everything. People need a little optimism in their lives. It was even better because as I started reading this, my little brother turned on Spongebob. Great job!


  • Loosher
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    That was interesting. I had to keep pausing in reading to look at the pics though


  • cutiepie gold member
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply

    Terrific

    Some call it brainwashing... Terrific write and very original form


  • Guardian
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Great points about the media, but I just don't get the whole Spongebob thing.


  • Cat gold member
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    love the sponge bob picture. The backgrounds were distracting.

    mary


  • CarterTachikawa
    March 15, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    Very, very funny. Your background suits the poem well too. I love your cynism. Sadly, that's what media is these days. Very, very cool stuff. Keep writing!

    ~CT

1 - 43 of 43