Dot To Dot

Dot to dot and dash to dash:
telegrams sent in a flash.
Electromagnetic force:
credit goes to Samuel Morse.
Dots connected on a map
by his magic tap-tap-tap.
Letters had a sequenced code
on the wire and down the road.
Dot is short and dash is long;
best if you don’t get them wrong.
Common letters, shorter bursts;
Q, X, Y, Z - they’re the worst.
Between letters, subtle breaks;
must have been some fun mistakes!
Senders need no nervous twitch,
insult in-laws with a glitch.
Decode takes a fine-tuned ear,
pen and paper always near.
First one sent: “what hath God wrought?”
Later, Hitler joined the plot.
Shot himself, the Reich, in flame;
Goering’s ’gram held partial blame.
Dot to dot and dash to dash:
Transatlantic distance smashed.
Dash to dash and dot to dot -
Now look at the phone I’ve got!

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for the Dot to Dot Poetry Contest sponsored by Kim Rodrigues written on 11/16/22
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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Kauffman Avatar
December 30, 2022 at 10:01 AM
Jeff, congratulations on your win! Wonderful theme you chose in the invention of the telegraph! I can hear the dots and dashes that brought the world closer together. And, I love the last line. Blessings for the new year as we raise a cup of cheer in welcome!
Miller Avatar
November 17, 2022 at 9:17 AM
Brilliant interpretation, rhyme and rhythm!
Bauer Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 1:44 PM
love the rhyme and rhythm of this one, jeff! best of luck in the contest...
Logan Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 6:46 AM
Technological advancements have taken us from dots and dashes to instant communication across the world. How did we exist before cell phones? Your interpretation of dot to dot is genuinely novel, as are most of your writes, Jeff.
Kyser Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 7:47 AM
"weird takes", more likely, lol. Thanks for the read and the comments!
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