We sit
     in a circle
     not because
     it signifies unity
     but because
     we have a
     360 {degree}
     televison screen
     
It shows
     episodes of
     Punky Brewster
     on an
     infinite loop
     and together
     in a circle
     we watch
     
We glean
     different bits
     as we sit
     though each
     of us watch
     the exact
     same episode
     at the exact same time
     
I see
     a young girl
     abandoned
     by her mother,
     goddamned Susan Brewster,
     but it can’t be too bad
     ’cause Punky hasn’t yet
     eaten Brandon

Our daughter
     sees a brown dog,
     and ridiculous
     shoes, and wonders
     if an old man
     would stop to help
     if she were left
     alone in Chicago
     
My wife
     eyes Henry
     suspiciously;
     wants to trust
     he’s got nothing
     but Punky’s best interests
     guiding his lonely,
     weary heart
     
Our son
     thinks Cherie
     is a saint
     and sounds bitter
     when he says,
     “In real life,
     they’d just
     call the cops”
     
We sit
     in a circle
     not because
     we’re united
     but because
     it’s the best way
     to view
     the whole story