Poem of the Day: "Payphone" by David Pring-Mill, Frequent Contributor

Payphone

David Pring-Mill

Once, there was small comfort

in seeing booths

with plastic phones,

metallic cords,

reflective silver,

light blue labels…

There was great relief

in reaching

into denim pockets,

and fumbling

for reeded edges

and knowing that

by the powers

of spare change

the voice of a friend

or family member

could be summoned,

magically,

for tucked-away connection

in the midst of clamor.

And the coin was part

of the experience,

and because of it

the conversations

we partook in

were not taken

for granted.

Now, fingers text away:

a billion empty words

and abbreviations

sent up into outer space.

These cosmic offerings

tumble back down,

seconds later.

Poet's Notes: Nostalgia can affect anything, including inanimate objects.