Way Stations and Memory Banks

Cream colored telephone in its nicho.
Dial tone. Rotary rolling back on itself.
Hallway emptied save for the sweep of mother

in a wide skirt, handling Marlboros, sparking

friends who listen. Tentative between errands.

Bell that bounces back when knocked to the floor.

Sturdy stationary cord that kinks up on itself.

More babies born. Congratulatory calls.

Plugged into the wall, traveling only so far.

Conduit to grandparents. Man on the other end,

better than a tin can. Late for dinner.

Frayed frequency. Magic string,

superior to yoyo. Trick to convey whispers.

Last minute. Grocery list additions.
No other nook but this one.

Hard plastic cradle cupped to the ear.
Alphabet of neighbors
behind walls. Hand folded notes with
five numbers. Morse code of fingernails

Secrets and children’s temperatures.

Snow days and best friends.
Tablets dog eared and doodled on.

Sky wires and poles. Hallowed

hallway hollow again.

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