Because I grew up
on the west side of
the country California
home of Hollywood
movies TV
even though we were too poor
to own a TV
I had heard of them
actually seen one or two
in the homes of friends
or neighbors and
I was riveted for
the few minutes of a visit and
knew where I lived
California generated the media
and monopolized exclusively
the electronic future of the world
so when at the age of eight
I was transported for a year
back to Buffalo New York
fourth grade in school
and staying with my uncle
who actually had
a TV in his house
I was astounded
that so far away and
on the other side of
the country in New York
I exclaimed,
“You have TV here too?”
He laughed and
I didn’t know why