dial

two-tone composition
unknown destinations
an operator obsesses
over pickup & hangup
one +1 more connected
than 2. you will. and
the company that will
bring it to you is me
push digits into holes,
keep spinning until you
feel the click in place
switch arms, hands tire
blinking countless lines,
voice carrying fast & far
on continuous copper wire
silence costs us as much—
draw X’s & O’s in octothorps
sleep clutching our handsets
there is so much to exchange
during long-distance calling