began with over ten thousand inspired titles. too numerous
to choose them all yet over time
the government introduced computers
to count sales
create rankings and soon only
the top 200 bestsellers were allowed shelf space

what a boon for the book business! no more
tedious lackluster humdrum confusing limp along
loser genius tomes sold here

every run-of-the-mill literary bookstore
was soon transformed into an entertainment oasis
comprised entirely
of genuine blockbusters

eventually ranking programs became more precise
tirelessly winnowing down the field until it left
a handful of popular titles
in the whole industry

one political meeting and two bottom line calculations later
the government altruistically determined
which three fashionable creations
were the best choice for every reader in the country

the official position explained that lack of author publisher
selection style content talent
and perspective made everyone's life
much simpler

people were happier going about their habitual existence
without fretting over not having enough time
to read all the good books they couldn't
afford to buy. less is more they brainwashed us
and to a dim narrow squelchy degree

they were so very very right