nationwide coverage in poetry

The shamelessness with which smartphone ads encourage us
to live in a constant state of rude distraction is fascinating.
They want us to watch football games at our best friends weddings
and worse be proud that we’re avoiding our real lives
and worse be giving each other secretive high-fives
because the phone got us out of really living.
The kind of social disengagement there is no forgiving
the smartphone ads promote as modern victories
they’ll get for you cheaper at high speeds
because they want to tell you that the rituals
that hold friendships families societies together
are inconveniences on the righteous path
to seeing a wife-beater dying of brain injuries catch a pass.
The shamelessness with which smartphone ads encourage us
to live in a constant state of rude distraction is fascinating.
And worse, they’re winning.