Small Talk: Desperate Students

Small Talk: Desperate Students

"Warning: Earthquake Coming!" Jamie yells out
rushing into her dorm room. Jessica says
"Are you seeing more missing cats & dogs
in the classifieds? Pets sense it before we do."
No, it's in Cosmo— "Turn your man into
a sex-pleasing genius! Foreplay ideas almost
too risqué to share plus Yummy guy eye
candy inside! and the SEX he'll die for!"
"Oh, tell me about it— I still don't have a date
for the Prom" sighs Jessica. "Why not ask that
cute guy in your Psych class? He'll go with you."
In fact, here's what Jo Jo advises in Seventeen:
"Girls should absolutely ask guys to the Prom!"
Try the Sensual Spice lip gloss and
Star Kissed nail polish to lure him!
Elle's got 240+ ideas to update your look.
Lucky shows how to look good in everything,
Vogue has the ultimate date dress for seduction.
You'll learn how to boost your libido tonight
in Shape, men's secret desires in Redbook,
30-second hairstyle tricks in Allure,
get the body you want from In Style,
the Hot Sex Guide in Marie Claire, and
why Demi Moore never ages in Vanity Fair.

Sujatha walks in to see her friends in frenzy,
fashion magazines covering both beds & floor.
They ask her who's taking her to the Prom.
"Oh, Sanjiv— he asked me months ago."
"Can you tell us your secret for success?"
they implore her. Sujatha says "I heard
the Dalai Lama a year ago, expecting
some talk on human rights, but he told us
to practice forgiveness, patience, tolerance,
compassion, and self-discipline. It made sense
and reinforced what my granny told me that
pain comes from selfishness and cravings while
joy comes from selflessness and helping others.
I met Sanjiv while volunteering at the Hospice
Home— Didn't know he was a student here,
and we've been good friends ever since.
These magazines at supermarket checkouts
pander to unfulfilled women in want of love
with new formulas offered every month,
but all their recipes just don't work.
Instead of teaching you how to fish
they want you to buy theirs at the market
for why reveal the real recipe for bliss
when false promises lure you to come back.

— Peter Y. Chou
Mountain View, 1-29-2007

| Top of Page | Notes to Poem | Poems 2007 | Haikus 2007 | Poetry News |
| CPITS | Poetry & Power | Poetry Resources | Books | A-Z Portals | Home |