Remote

Peter Mladinic

My remote’s working.

Then I click sideways

To move from YouTube

To Netflix; it stays

On YouTube; then it

Works; then I click

To change the volume.

Nothing; then I’m on

Old time classics TV’s

Father Knows Best:

Robert Young lecturing,

Billy Gray taking it all in,

You can see it in his eyes.

I go to switch to Dragnet;

Nothing. I click to lower

The volume. No go.

Elinor Donahue bounces

Into the living room:

Pony tail, letter-sweater,

Books in her arms.

I can’t get anything

To happen. Click, click.

Nothing changes.

I don’t think it’s batteries.

I insert two new Duracells.

They’re still there: father,

Son, daughter, in their

Carpeted, upholstered

Living room. I forget their

Surname. Damn remote!