Today’s napowrimo.net prompt is ‘to write a poem based on things you remember.’ Not a particularly unique prompt (particularly the ‘I remember…’ variant), but I gave it a shot:

A list of random things I remember from childhood that ends up being all about TV in the end and could theoretically go on forever because I didn’t bother to give it a proper ending

The newspaper article about the parrot
who was taught to say ‘go to hell’

Six inches of snow on a December morning
putting on my snow boots and trudging down the hill

The NFL home game that just vibrated when plugged in
so the little plastic players did nothing

Late night TV shows I tried to stay up for
but could never get through without missing something

Gasping on the steps of the playground at lunchtime
with a piece of Red Vine stuck in my throat

Trying to point at something across the street
and putting my finger up my best friend’s nose

Playing tennis racket electric guitar in front of the mirror
while singing along to ‘Ballroom Blitz’

Listening to American Top 40 on Sundays
to hear Casey Kasem play all the hits

Recording my favorite TV shows
by putting the tape recorder in front of the set

Seeing Star Wars from front row center
because it was the best place to sit

Stacking too many LPs on the record changer
and the last record would never spin

Playing Monopoly® after school
and nobody could win

Cartoons every morning before school
while eating peanut butter toast

The Joker’s Wild in the afternoon
while eating peanut butter toast

Intermissions on Home Box Office:
trailers and bicycle rides through Central Park

‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at 2 a.m.
and test patterns after dark

(29 April 2016)