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Reality

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Originally published: 26th September 2019

Image by gR

Edited on 22nd October 2022

as builders spend pennies flipping profits on houses lifestyle gurus show us how to fold trousers and chefs under pressure scream out all their orders while people in need are labelled as hoarders and bookies fix odds for the afternoon races as judges cast judgements on bizarre family cases and contestants press buzzers to win mystery prizes while traffic cops chase young suicide drivers and retirees escape to a life on the Costas as law firms inform us it’s good to sue doctors and super vets cure lame dogs and sick horses as folk with backstories fail SAS courses and dealers earn livings from ducking and diving while medics with agents get judged Strictly jiving and loan deals have small print explaining their charges while celebs enjoy cruising on canals in large barges and food critics chew over masterful dinners and. there. are. several. long. seconds before we find out the winners but when MPs dodge questions on the numerous news’ panels it’s proof that what bites really sucks on our channels.

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Mark Toney

Date: 3/8/2025 10:33:00 PM

Gary, I appreciate your support for my Flash Poetry Callenge (11). Such was the reality when you posted this in 2019 (months before we acknowledged the pandemic), and things haven’t really changed for the better in the over five years since. Clever rhyme.

Gary Radice
Date: 3/9/2025 3:56:00 AM

Thanks Mark. It’s good to give the old poems an airing every now and again. Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick

Date: 1/8/2025 4:12:00 PM

Creative lines penned in this one. Some things in life should not be but are and someone or people pay the prices. Thanks for sharing this one with us. Sara K

Gary Radice
Date: 1/9/2025 2:42:00 AM

Thanks for your visit to this, my first poem here at PS. I’d almost forgotten about it. It just highlights for me the crazy world we live in. There is nothing less real than the reality we are shown on TV. :) Cheers - Gary

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 10/4/2023 6:20:00 AM

My pleasure. I enjoyed giving it another read. I’m glad I flipped to your channel.

Gary Radice
Date: 10/5/2023 6:52:00 AM

I'm glad you did too Richard. :) Thank you. Cheers - Gary

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 9/11/2020 6:27:00 AM

All I can say is wow, what a superb first piece. A belated welcome but glad to make your acquaintance.

Gary Radice
Date: 9/11/2020 9:34:00 AM

Thanks for the welcome Richard and for stopping by to read. Cheers - Gary

Elaine George

Date: 9/6/2020 4:12:00 AM

The truth laid out on the line. BRAVO!

Gary Radice
Date: 9/6/2020 5:07:00 AM

Thank you Elaine. The more time goes on, the more I think daytime TV and politics are blurring together. A crazy and scary thought. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman

Date: 8/24/2020 4:37:00 PM

You really made me smile with this one, Gary! For me most all of tv sinks to the LCD - lowest common denominator - of life with little depth, no imagination and absent of any creativity - not that I'm a paragon in any of those categories! Most tv feeds the world pablum - easy to digest and swallow. Great wisdom in your witty lines and rhymes. Kudos!

Gary Radice
Date: 8/25/2020 2:07:00 AM

Thanks Sam! I often wonder whose reality the TV programmes refer to! :) I often think that the "less is more" ethos that we had in the 60s / 70s here in the UK when it came to TV shows was so much better. Less choice = More concentration etc etc. ..and no daytime TV = more time for creative play / family etc Cheers - Gary

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 8/24/2020 4:09:00 AM

- Congratulations on your win, Gary ... I remember how exciting it was to post my first poem :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Gary Radice
Date: 8/24/2020 4:26:00 AM

Thank you Sunshine Smile. I'll sit down and have a read of all the poems entered a little later. It was good to revisit this poem. I like it more now than when I first posted it almost a year ago! :)

Silent One

Date: 8/24/2020 3:03:00 AM

A brilliant first post, I always feel formatting helps how a poem is read.. You are right about MP's, politics is the same everywhere, sadly.. This was not really a contest, it was an opportunity to showcase your first poem and I am glad you entered. Thank you.

Gary Radice
Date: 8/24/2020 4:32:00 AM

Thanks Silent One for your comments AND thinking up the great opportunity for all of us to reflect in this way. I took time writing this poem and maybe that's the key for me as I've not been bowled over by all of my recent work which I feel I have rushed a little. Your 'contest' has helped me rethink things for which I'm very grateful. Cheers - Gary

Christopher Flaherty

Date: 7/8/2020 4:30:00 PM

These are some of my favorite things on PMQ Time repeated on Dave by H.I.G.N.F.Y. Satirical humour at its very best

Christopher Flaherty
Date: 7/9/2020 7:06:00 PM

Likewise Pal I detest most t.v And as for Reality t.v They should explain or tell them to look up the definition in an actual Dictionary

Gary Radice
Date: 7/9/2020 3:27:00 AM

Hi Christopher. Thanks for your comments. To be mentioned in any way shape or form in the same sentence as H.I.G.N.F.Y. is a win for me. The poem in the main is about how unreal Reality TV actually is..TBH I detest most afternoon TV full stop. Cheers :) Gary

Line Gauthier

Date: 4/19/2020 9:37:00 PM

Love the humor in this poem, Gary ~ especially obvious in this line "And. There. Are. Several. Long. Seconds"

Gary Radice
Date: 5/11/2020 9:09:00 AM

Thanks Line :)

Line Gauthier

Date: 2/22/2020 6:49:00 PM

Congrats on a well deserved top win with your first posted poem. Welcome to PoetrySoup, Gary. You know how to make a grand entrance. Bravo.

Gary Radice
Date: 2/23/2020 4:51:00 AM

It was fun to write Line - I just wish daytime Reality TV was as fun to watch. :) Cheers Gary

Brenda Chiri

Date: 1/26/2020 5:53:00 PM

Gary co grata on your top win!;)

Gary Radice
Date: 1/27/2020 12:48:00 PM

Brenda, thank you. :)

David Smith

Date: 11/25/2019 12:19:00 PM

Really good example of his type of poetry. You kept the reader focused, you added a drop of humour, gave something for wide audience to chew on, you also made it real but did not promote hopelessness. Lastly and probably most important you, I am sure, will have started a few discussions that are hopefully positive. So hope that you feel chuffed about the way it all came together. Best regards David in NZ

Gary Radice
Date: 11/25/2019 1:48:00 PM

Thank you for your comments and compliments David. Yes, I was very happy how it all came together although I wont lie and say it just wrote itself in a day or so (which I find with most of my poetry). I struggled with the last verse for a week or so and it was then that the "Reality Bites" theme came into its own. I'm glad you pointed out that there is stuff to chew on as well as humour. Thanks again, Gary