The cover of the monthly magazine
displayed at the counter
along with gum and candy
breath mints and tape
has a photo of someone of whom I’ve never heard
but I’m now privy to intimate details
of her marriage, divorce, children and
most important
the secrets of her diet and health

Each month brings a new celebrity
who had been just an ordinary person
the month before
well, ordinary is a word
that may not apply exactly to these
fungible beings

Upon what does fame these days rest?
not intellect, of course,
though there are those
who show a blaze in unexpected ways;
not good deeds done out of sight
of camera crews, discovered reluctantly
and owned the same;
not gentle souls that teach
our hidden thoughts to sing

Fame’s the same as yesterday
in Wilde(r) days when
truth was only told in merriment
and gossip was the currency of choice