Calling In

In how many rooms

Are good Americans

Holding 

Tiny phones 

Pressed to ear

Busy signals 

Loud & 

Clear?

The 8-8-8 #

The call-in date 

The simple prompts 

After getting through 

Press one! Press two!

Do they keep trying

Or sigh in frustration

After three dozen calls

Or do they 

Keep on going 

These unlucky few 

7.8% & rising

These Americans

That didn't make 

skeleton crews:

A-list players

Too testy, too expensive 

B-Listers that didn't help 

The bottom line, enough

C-listers & team players 

Given no instruction 

Except, 'Don't Come Back' 

The voices inside your head,

The taunting voice, 

The one that says

It's not like you're calling the cable company,

the wires are down

& you need help 

& you just purchased something 

& you are the customer 

& you are always right 

No! No! No! 

The voices tell you 

It's not like that 

Not like that at all.