Jan Allison Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

I Couldn'T Do Without 'It'

‘It’ is something many computer salesman don’t know exists
but our laptops wouldn’t be secure without 'it'.
‘It’ is a tiny component, vital for the stability of our computers
Without ‘it’ they would wobble about.

I learned about ‘it’ from our friend Malc
I was thinking of getting a new laptop
He advised me to ask the salesman if it had LRF
Malc is very knowledgeable, so I asked the salesman
Does it have LRF? My friend Malc says it must have 'it'

The salesman scratched his chin and looked puzzled
LRF – I’ve never heard of ‘it’, are you sure ‘it’ is vital

I persisted and said Malc had insisted my laptop MUST have ‘it’

I said I couldn’t buy the computer if it didn’t have LRF
and could he find out for me…
The salesman found his boss and he hadn’t heard of ‘it’ either

So I rang Malc’s mobile
Said I had a problem as the salesman couldn’t confirm the laptop had ‘it’ 
Malc said he’d come to the store to check
He arrived…
Turned the laptop over and peered at the base…
Yes this one is fine; I see it has LRF

The salesman looked perplexed, 
explaining he’d worked in computers for years and had never heard of ‘it’
Please tell me, what ‘it’ is, he asked 

Malc grinned and looked him straight in the eye
‘Little Rubber Feet’, he said … ‘it’ is a vital component!

Now, hands up….
How many of you have just felt the corner of your laptop to see if yours has ‘it’!

IT Poetry contest
Sponsored by John Lawless

11-25-17

Fiction write but based on a true story. Our friend Malc worked in IT and got fed up of salesman bombarding people with ‘technospeak’ especially three letter abbreviations so LRF was his little joke at getting back at them.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Viv Wigley November 27, 2017 at 6:05 AM Ha! How true, Jan. I worked in 'IT' support for many years, and one of our favourite terms was 'RTFM'. Good luck with IT x Jan Allison November 27, 2017 at 6:07 AM LOL I must tell that to hubby - he also worked in IT - his boss was not particularly nice so he was known as the Senior Head Information Technology:-) hugs Jan xx

Duke Beaufort November 27, 2017 at 5:49 AM Jan, lately with so much RF (radio frequency) coming from devices, our clock radio has become difficult to listen to. It buzzes from interference. So, I replaced it with a google mini. I can talk to it and ask it to wake me up. It's far easier to set than my old Sony Dream Machine. Just an interesting comment on our state of affairs. Everything is reverting to streaming although we do still receive TV over the air to save on cable bills. Jan Allison November 27, 2017 at 6:02 AM Technology is changing so fast Duke and I am still living in the dark ages but your idea of the clock is brilliant :-) hugs jan xx

Duke Beaufort November 27, 2017 at 5:46 AM Really cute. I will have to try this out on some of my techno friends. Jan Allison November 27, 2017 at 6:01 AM LOL Duke:-) hugs jan xx

Lim'Rik Flats November 26, 2017 at 8:11 AM GOTD! mine's got 'em;-) Huggadubs !~ j Jan Allison November 26, 2017 at 2:34 PM ha ha ha you are the first one to admit it lol:-) hugs jan xx

Jerry T Curtis November 26, 2017 at 7:07 AM JA OMG I LMAO..... GB JTC Jan Allison November 26, 2017 at 2:33 PM ty JTC:-) ugs Jan xx

Stephen Pennell November 26, 2017 at 5:58 AM brilliant jan was well puzzled for a min lol Jan Allison November 26, 2017 at 2:33 PM Lol Stephen, remember LRF lol:-) hugs jan xx

Cheryl Hoffman November 25, 2017 at 11:07 PM This is a funny clever write for the contest Jan; good luck in it! (Now I know what LFR stands for lol!)~Che :) Jan Allison November 26, 2017 at 5:49 AM Our friend Malc got so fed up of technospeak with TLA (three letter abbreviations) so he made up his own lol:-) hugs jan xx

Arthur Vaso November 25, 2017 at 10:55 PM ILT, was a SGP, !!! LOL When is version 2.2 coming out? Jan Allison November 26, 2017 at 5:47 AM 2.2 has been put on hold, too many bugs and boring white and went sticky after a time. Version 3.02A is looking hopeful with rainbow colours which change according to your mood - the only issue is you can't see them because they are underneath the laptop lol:-) hugs Jan xx

Sneha Rv November 25, 2017 at 9:53 PM Oh haha this is so great! One of the four on mine has disappeared xD The sound a laptop makes on wood without 'it' is very annoying. All the best in the contest!! Jan Allison November 26, 2017 at 5:43 AM Oh dear Sneha, but my hubby advises to get a cheap eraser (rubber) and cut it to size and glue it on - a good cheap fix and it stops the irritating noise:-) hugs jan xx

Andrea Dietrich November 25, 2017 at 7:42 PM this is SO cute. For sure, you ought to get a win for this VERY clever piece. I want to do mine like a grammar lesson. Pray for me I even have time for IT. Jan Allison November 26, 2017 at 5:44 AM I rarely place with this sponsor so I just write as a challenge and a win is a bonus:-) hugs jan xx

Rhoda Tripp November 25, 2017 at 7:27 PM LOL! This is great. I was totally hooked and roped in from the very beginning. Who wouldn't want to know what "it" is? Very ingenious. Jan Allison November 26, 2017 at 5:43 AM Thanks Rhoda:-) hugs jan xx

Dale Gregory Cozart November 25, 2017 at 7:12 PM This is hilarious, but I'd have been mortified in front of the clerk!! Jan Allison November 25, 2017 at 7:18 PM The poem has a thread of truth as Malc invented 'LRF' as he got so fed up of computer salesman trying to BS him so he gave it back to them but the majority of the poem is pure poetic licence - am worried its will never be renewed lol:-) I don't know what John will think, then again I just use the contests as prompts for my poetry and if I get another n/a it will add to my expanding collection:-) hugs jan xx

Christopher Flaherty November 25, 2017 at 7:07 PM Computer Speak when broken down Jan is quite simple and self explanatory when tech people are not trying to be pompous and full of there own self importance. Funny enjoyed this Jan Allison November 25, 2017 at 7:14 PM Definitely subliminal thoughts Christopher or we both have the same bug or even worse computer virus!:-) hugs jan xx Christopher Flaherty November 25, 2017 at 7:09 PM Subconscious or subliminal thought's I read a lot of your work Jan so it probably did inspire my earlier poem yes we either have a bug or are in need of a hug

Line Gauthier November 25, 2017 at 6:42 PM Jan, what expertly crafted storytelling... You had us on the edge of our seat, it might as well been called a short thriller. You've invented a new poetry form! And... now we all know what LRF is. Thank you. Jan Allison November 25, 2017 at 6:55 PM LOL Line:-) Our friend Malc hated BS from salesman so he gave as good as he got - I never used the 'LRF' line the poem pure poetic licence, but Malc used to wind up salesmen a treat :-) hugs Jan xx

Tom Cunningham November 25, 2017 at 5:57 PM Loved it, must admit it had me going until the end. But yes, its a vital component. Just noticed my toaster has got LRF so it must be a good make. Regards Tom Jan Allison November 25, 2017 at 6:04 PM lol Tom, our friend Malc couldn't stand the BS he used to get from salesmen who seemed to talk in three letter abbreviations so in the end he decided to play them at their own game with 'LRF' and I've just used a little bit of 'poetic licence' with the theme. Glad to hear your toaster has LRF lol:-) hugs jan xx