Ways To Say…
Could dispatch
a carrier pigeon,
or twit a Tweet,
or S.W.A.L.K.
a snail mail.
Could puff a smoke signal,
or click a Facebook “poke”.
Could tag a photo.
Could flick a virtual
kiss. Could say
something with flowers
or a Gorilla-gram.
Or just thumb
a text.
Short.
Succinct.
Smiling.
To say….
Yes? In the old days
(y’know, Pre-Millennium?)
we used to just
pick up the phone…
(…pulse pounding,
handset slippy in hot palm,
twirling the cord
round nervous fingers,
quick breath echoing
back on the dial tone…)
… just pick up the phone
and call.
If we wanted.
It’s still an option…
“…Handset slippy in hot palm, twirling the cord round nervous fingers…” Ah, the memories!
Great poem.
Thank you. Yes, me too about the memories… We even had a proper dial phone without push buttons (can’t think what they’re called!) and that seems practically prehistoric now!
It took more courage to phone someone to ask them out (or whatever) but so much more exciting that fiddling about with texts….
God, I feel old…
Supadupa
Thanks Willow.
Amazingly awesome, Holly, and now I feel old, just remembering…
Yes, I feel old. Was debating with a friend recently what the definition of “middle aged” is. My definition is older than her definition – we are the same age. I think it is my denial of my oncoming birthday!
Well, I really don’t feel old, but I guess, technically, at 51, I’m middle aged! Yikes! I’m young at heart and I’m sure you’re younger than me, so anticipate your birthday with fervor, to celebrate another year of life.
And Happy early Birthday, Holly!
Those are rotary dial telephones, and how satisfying they are to operate. My Dad has one in his workshop still.
This piece truly grabbed me Holly. You paint a fine and highly detailed mind picture.
Ah, rotary dial! Of course they are – now you say it I remember! Thanks Jim!
A dial, yes, as in sundial, circular, (probably from Latin ‘dies’ meaning day) – but we don’t dial anymore, we just punch in numbers – even ‘speed-dial’ isn’t a dial, is it. But then, in my grandmother’s day you just lifted the telephone and said “Connect me with Doctor Davis, please.”
Where will it all lead? We already have voice recognition. Who then will write a poem on how we used to just punch in a few numbers, when you simply say to your phone “Doctor Davis” and it connects you straight away?
Nice poem again. Full of memories of varying kinds.
Thank you Al.
I vote for two yoghurt pots and a piece of string…
“pulse pounding, handset slippy…” Great job I could feel it all!
Léa
Ah, the breathless anticipation of making *that* call to *that* person… Or, even better, receiving that call.
I like to dream…
Really liked how you ended it
Thank you Ian – I wanted a note of hope at the end of this one.
Talking technologies – so many – so cool
Thanks Polly. I’m a bit of a technophobe, but I do like a nice ringing phone…
Enjoyed that! Yes, brings back lots of memories – didn’t even have a cordless phone, so I had to talk to boyfriends in whispers in the hallway, with my mother suddenly finding a million things to do between bathroom and kitchen…
Aaaah, Marina – I remember doing the same!
Hi,
I have nominated you for multiple awards . To find out more about the awards, please visit
http://seasonspoetry.com/2012/04/28/aprils-award-shower/
Ciao, Francina
Thank you for thinking of me Francina.
A bit of the “old days”, I haven’t had a
land line for a decade now.
Blimey! I had no idea I was being quite so retro…!
Absolutely fantastic Holly!!
i can remember all these feelings and I have written SWALK on the odd occasion! -so exciting and daring
We forget don’t we, that it is still possible to do all these things?! I’ts like there’s some unwritten rule to say a resounding “NO” – time has moved on and we must all march neatly with it
Christine
Thanks Christine – yes, I think you’re right. Such a shame, as some of the old excitements are lost. Gosh, I sound like a Grumpy Old Woman! lol
So do I!!
Fantastic the way you image vulnerability here Holly.
Thank you – I guess the idea of putting ourselves “out there” is what makes us feel vulnerable… Worth it sometimes though.
Indeed.
bad ass! I love the wording in this.
Yay! Thanks for reading Maggie.