operator 2

  1. Goodbye, Dear

 

How seldom now do you begin with Dear,

Both warm and formal (civil) but a mere

First name — “David:” — like a Sir or Madam  

Summons to a wayward child of Adam,

No salutation as in Saint Paul’s Letters,

Your curt tone saying one should know his betters

As if you bid a servant or a beast,

And you in all these emails not the least

Aware of such abruptness being rude —

Public, private address grown crass and crude —

And so, in closing, I reply (hit Send)

Goodbye: And let this conversation end.

 

  1. Toll Free

 

Reception bad on my cable TV

I punch the 800-number. Technically

Pleasant an artificial female voice

Says “Hi. I’m here to help you. Make a choice:

English? Español?” “Latin.” “Choose again.”

“English.” “OK. Now we can start.” (I’m in.)

“Let’s try to find the problem.” “Well . . .” I pause

Wanting to be quite clear while cause on cause

Is quickly listed for my “Yes” reply

Or cordless button-pushing as I pry

To get more than a word in though the toll

In time and patience, rising, tries the soul

Till “No’s,” then silence, prompt a change in tone:

“I need my supervisor. Hold the phone

Two minutes.” Twenty pass. A curt “Hello”

To which my Latin tells him where to go

As “thanks for calling but we seem unable

To understand the problem with your cable”

And “this call has been monitored . . .” play through,

Reception clear as church bells, ringing true.


David Middleton

David Middleton is Professor Emeritus of English and Poet in Residence Emeritus at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Middleton’s books of verse include The Burning Fields (LSU Press, 1991), As Far As Light Remains (The Cummington Press [Harry Duncan], 1993), Beyond the Chandeleurs (LSU Press, 1999), The Habitual Peacefulness of Gruchy: Poems After Pictures by Jean-François Millet (LSU Press, 2005), The Fiddler of Driskill Hill (LSU Press 2013), and Outside the Gates of Eden (Measure Press, 2023). In the spring of 2025, Texas Review Press will publish "Time Will Tell: Collected Poems/ David Middleton." “Pickets” first appeared in the September 2023 issue of Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture. “Porches” and Section iv of The Dwelling Place first appeared in the Alabama Literary Review. All three poems have been lightly edited for this posting and will be included in "Time Will Tell."

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