Saturday, June 11, 2011

I wait for the call


I wait for the call
that never comes,
the expectation that
begins before
the rotary dial,
when you pick up
the phone and ask
the operator to make
the call, but you have
to chat or gossip first
that’s part of her salary
or perhaps cajole
the other parties off
the party line.
I still wait for the call
through the dial and
the slimline and the cell
and the BlackBerry and
the iPhone and who knows
what else is going to happen
but it still doesn’t come.
The dust layers thick as
I sit on the shelf,
waiting.

This poem is submitted to One Shot Sunday hosted by One Stop Poetry. To see other poem submitted and the conclusion of the interview with photographer Rob Hanson, please visit the site.

Photograph: They Never Call by Rob Hanson. Used with permission for One Stop poetry.

25 comments:

dustus said...

rotary dial... technology sure has come a long way. Great mix of former conventions in your poem too, especially the obligatory conversation with the operator and party lines. Always good to catch you on Sunday, Glynn.

Tulika Verma said...

beautiful! You portray the anxiety so well!

Kodjo Deynoo said...

It is still just that phone call, long awaited. I enjoyed reading this Glynn

Brian Miller said...

we are resonating a bit glynn...the waiting when we could be calling...what are we waiting for?

Ashwini Sane said...

Thant was a great poem on what we all experience at some time in our lives! My best wishes to you!

Anonymous said...

"The dust layers thick as I sit on the shelf waiting."

that line just hits the spot for me...you have to stop and allow your mind to truly wrap around the words...then the emotions follow...dig your take on the prompt!

Louise Gallagher said...

In my early twenties, when I first moved west, I lived on the country and shared a 'party line'.

I consciously never listened in, but sometimes, it was impossible to avoid hearing someone else's words.

Nice poem Glynn. Like the way you've woven the image in and brought the character alive.

Unknown said...

Enjoyed your write. A good journey of how our communication means have changed. It made me smile, I was just talking with someone yesterday about old party line style calling. Much enjoyed ~ Rose

Claudia said...

one of the most horrible things..if you wait for a call and it doesn't come...for whatever reason...

Maureen said...

Some of us really are old enough to remember rotary dials and party lines.

There is One who knows exactly when the call will come; we have to be patient and ready to accept it.

Nice use of metaphor.

Randy Behavior said...

Ahh the rotary, used to hate the phone numbers with zeros. They took for ever! We thought push buttons were so advanced... little did we know where we'd go.

Unknown said...

wow talk of blast from the past this definitely took me back ...but regardless of technology that call we're waiting for always seems to be the one we ache for, think you portrayed this wonderfully. Thank you

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

...as i sit on the shelf waiting.the story of many encounters.the combination of past and present mingle well in this piece.nice!

Maude Lynn said...

The waiting is the same no matter the technology! Nicely done.

Libby said...

Wonderful poem and love the way you wrap it all up at the end "on the shelf waiting" Libby @Libbypoetry

Anonymous said...

how about...

Pennsylvania 6-5000

- glenn miller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2apquxKKQ

Linda said...

Some things just don't change despite our modern advances.
This was good Glynn - perfect words for that lovely photo.

Anonymous said...

Many big band names played in the Hotel Pennsylvania's Cafe Rouge Ballroom, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra;[4] the phone number became the inspiration for the Glenn Miller 1940 Top 5 Billboard hit song of the same name, written by Jerry Gray and Carl Sigman, and released as RCA Bluebird 78 B-10754-A backed with "Rug Cutter's Swing"

wikipedia

Anonymous said...

Excellent poem, that feeling of anticipation, what to say, how to say it. We've all been there. Now we just dump people by text. That's so harsh!

Anonymous said...

The days of rotary and party lines, dusty shelf indeed; very much appreciated the tone of this poem; great prompt response ~

Tracy Krauss said...

No matter the technology, things haven't changed much. We're still waiting ...

www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com

S. Etole said...

so difficult to pick it up and dial sometimes ...

Patricia said...

I love remembering the party line! There was just something about winding that crank. You have a way of making words and memories flow so beautifully.

Ann Grenier said...

The call that never comes---so evocative of hopes, anticipation, wishes that will follow one upon another until the end of our earthly lives. Very apt response to the photo of the venerable old phone.