I surf channels to pass the plentiful waves of time
Commercials galore, all COVID-19-related now
like it’s the latest Madison Avenue fad
“We’re in this together,” says the voice actor in a somber tone
Images flash of high-spirited humans, doing their part
A medley of amateur footage gives an illusion
of unity, of brand loyalty, of subliminal product-pushing
How did they produce these 30-second ads so fast?
as if market research forecasted this pandemic
Those Wall Street schmucks invested wisely,
capitalizing on our sorrows, our visible fears
While we collect our pittance
and regulated rolls of toilet paper,
they’re wiping their asses with ticker tape
Michelle Carollo and Raj Tawney, New York aprile 2020