(Self) Portraiture In the Modern Age
(Self) Portraiture In the Modern Age
I sit
in front of my computer
squinting into
the screen.
Gallup asks me
to rate my life,
on a scale
of 1 to 10,
Then to rate my life
five years from now.
My answers are supposed to be
confidential,
meaning that only a select few
sitting in Omaha, Nebraska,
and their computer system,
now know
not only how I think the President,
Congress, the military industrial complex,
health care reform, various commercial enterprises
my employer and workplace and my exercise program
are doing,
but also
how my life turned out
and will.
(Participation is my chance,they tell me,
to “make my opinions count.”)
Sometimes I only need go up to 5–a half-life–
that being a world that I cannot imagine
without–you name it–Pizza Hut–Citibank–Ramada Inn–
and 1 meaning that I think the
pizza/services/rooms
really stink.
I picture these (presumably) Nebraskans
depicting me
as a series of checkered squares mounted
onto the sides of their cubicles,
not so much like the pixels of a super close-up
as the pattern of a restaurant tablecloth
tacked up over damaged sheetrock–
The cut-out is shaped
like a woman–as slender as the target at
a shooting range–only this one
is of a certain age group, i.e. her squares
intersect with other squares
perhaps of a different color–
but only with those that also do not frequent Pizza Hut,
are able to imagine a world without Citibank,
and can’t remember whether they ever stayed
at a Ramada Inn–
And yet, the squared curves
have a life, although, admittedly,
it rates below 10.
Were the questions interesting?
Gallup asks me at the end of each survey,
as I sit
in front of the computer,
squinting
into the screen.
*************************************
Ha. Here’s another silly one for DAY 18! Of National Poetry Month. Posted for Brian Miller’s prompt on dVerse Poets Pub to write a self-portrait. I am, in fact, a proud member of the Gallup Poll.
Tags: manicddaily, please don't survey me, portraiture in the modern age, self-portrait, the Gallup Poll participant's poem
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ManicDDaily 
April 18, 2014 at 9:38 pm
This was humorous to read……..I loved it.
April 18, 2014 at 9:41 pm
they really don’t want to know what you think, they want to know how to manipulate you…
April 18, 2014 at 9:53 pm
Ha. That may be. I’ve been on it for a long time and haven’t changed much though! k.
April 18, 2014 at 9:54 pm
🙂
April 18, 2014 at 9:52 pm
Nothing to be sorry for when its good, k. I like this one–it’s got all the usual ingredients in the broth of alienation, but it manages to somehow have its own delicious flavor. I especially like the stanza beginning:
The cut-out is shaped
like a woman–as slender as the target at
a shooting range–
that whole stanza just gels the poem. I saw the illustration on FB and laughed out loud, btw, Had to come read, though I usually try to read in the mornings when my brain isn’t boiled by, yes, squinting into the screen.
And, another one bites the dust! I desperately sat down to write mine for tomorrow earlier with a totally blank mind–fortunately saw a picture, and got it in literally five minutes–pure serendipity, not skill. ;_)
April 18, 2014 at 9:56 pm
Thanks. This started simple and got more complicated. I had one going for tomorrow and got interrupted and then just very tired so I don’t know what I will do. Come up with something! I seem to be on a later posting schedule so I have all day to think of something. Though I think your ekphrastic thing has been working out super well for you and I thought in my mind of a picture at least–but haven’t taken the trouble to actually look at it! Maybe that would help! k.
April 18, 2014 at 10:06 pm
This is such a kooky cool take on the idea of a self-portrait. I love it.
April 18, 2014 at 10:51 pm
Kooky is all too accurate. Thanks, MZ. k.
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April 18, 2014 at 10:10 pm
intriguing the information gatherers…and what that says about us when you slice and dice us down to data points…the cut out shape and alluding to the firing range it really a great point in this…
happy easter to you as well…make sure what the easter bunny leaves you is candy—before you put it in your mouth…smiles.
April 18, 2014 at 10:50 pm
Ha. Thanks, Brian! Especially watch out for the chocolates!
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April 19, 2014 at 2:28 am
It’s strange all the ways others think to rate us and call it quality of life. As if! You captured this slice of modern life here.
April 19, 2014 at 2:55 am
ha – actually i usually don’t take part in surveys as i’m not sure what they really do with the information…. all the world seems to gather data and information – just think about fb – and sometimes it frightens me how transparent everything gets..
April 20, 2014 at 5:14 pm
fantastic self portrait response. wow, I think the daily writing exercise brings out the best in you. here, your voice is clean and clear, and your motive comes across authentically. restaurant tablecloth tacked up over damaged sheet rock! killer comparison. wonderful piece.
April 20, 2014 at 7:02 pm
I am enjoying the daily poems. I find it great sustenance to write and, with the daily thing, you can’t worry too much if it is so good! Thanks so much for your kind comments, Jane. K.
April 20, 2014 at 7:12 pm
Karin, you took an interesting perspective in here. Smiles. Writing daily poetry must be difficult.
Happy Easter.
April 21, 2014 at 6:39 pm
I think you purposefully wanted for this portrait to not say a lot, yet the clues are there…a funny yet complicated write…(I gave up on the NaPo….oh well) Good on you!