TELEVISION

Poetry

Television

Roald dahl

 
The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
The near your television set --
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.

In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen,
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw 
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)

They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotized by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all that shocking ghastly junk.

Oh yes, we know it keeps them still.
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
and wash the dishes in the sink --
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULLAND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK -- HE ONLY SEES!

Glossary

idiotic thing                                  a television is called an 'idiotic box' (slang term)
loll and slop and lounge about     sit or lie leisurely while eating and spilling snaks
hypnotized                                   charmed, made still as if by a spell
ghastly                                         horrible, very alarming
junk                                             rubbidh, things of little value
tot                                                child
CLOG                                         block, choke
CLUTTER                                  to fill with too many things
FANTASY                                   a pleasant imaginary situation

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