“Hello”—a four second pause—evidence
Enough to slam the damned phone down!
“May I speak with Marvin Klotz?” Temperance
Prevails—“Speaking,” say I. “This is Kris Clown
Calling from—(fill in the blank)—How are you
Today?” And why should I permit this strange
Voice to question me? He/she has no clue
How irritation morphs into deranged!
My silence greets that “how are you today?”
Hello?—Hello?—a shift in tone: HELLO?
That’s when I gently put the phone away
Despite the poor zshlub’s plaintive, wan bellow.
That disembodied desp’rate voice, no doubt,
Earns meager pay, contends all day with louts
Like me—we both would like to shout about
Malignant marketing that burns us out.
(5/23/08)