Wednesday, 8 October 2025

4 February 1983, or Why I never liked the sitcom Cheers

She came around
long after we'd stopped seeing each other regularly

Our respective academic careers had recently
taken radically
different paths
mine one of relegation + stagnation, hers
one of predicted + actualised excellence of
which I was (give me some credit) mindful
so provided ++ an excuse for my
withdrawal

It's too late now
I've missed my chance

Briefly reunited we sat on my bed
not even touching elbows
and watched
the first episode of this new show on
my black and white portable tv

Neither of us laughed
it was no Taxi or Soap
our shared references

I found it corny AF tbh
although we wouldn't be saying AF or tbh
for another 40 years and now
I never actually say it at all

All the characters seemed like pupperets
- meant to write puppets -
moving about a chessboard
unresolved quips, simplistic
quirks as defining character, no
I did not find this situation
at all amusing

Years later when we visited Boston
the boys got up early and tracked down
the Cheers bar

While I stayed laid in bed listening
to jazz on the radio actually

Wishing I knew how to
resolve my simplistic behaviour
and overcome
my chessboard movement
limitations

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