Best Rotary Poems
trees tremble, nuts fall
angels use of rotary whisk
the wind as if mint
refreshes my home
it is brisk, inviting
i’m cold
i don’t care
it is Fall
9/26/2022
*PV - Proverbial Verbiage
The Old Rotary
Dialing out…zzzzip…zzzzzzzip…zzzzzzzip
and
zip…zzip…zzzip…zzzzip
and brring…
long distance was not a thing
for children. they could only
ring those within their corridor
ching…ching
money didn’t grow on trees
the grown up made sure
we were wise
or they’d wise up
our behinds
but we didn’t even try
a bit smarter back then
smarting at smaller things
like
eating Mr. McGregor’s produce
throwing
stones at cars
but
we kept our hands
off the old man’s
cookie jar (PV)
rang Grandma
once a year (PV)
It was more fun to dial out
but by then a burglar
tied you up (PV)
Was it Saxony Asia or Asia Saxony?
Was it Saxony Asia or Asia Saxony?
From Japan to Germany Rotarian so many!
An occasion for mix up of cultures irrespective of race & creed for world understanding
High quality entertainment, food for the thought and of course. taste buds pandering
With Rotary Governor, Saxony prime minister and the Prince all standing
At the podium, to share their feelings, thoughts and key message motivating
From the new BMW factory, enchanting Glashutte to Volks W’s transparent factory
The outstanding symbols of revival of the glory of good old days of Saxony
A woodwork museum of Daetz to depict symbolic representations of religions since ages
An exclusive collection of art and culture backed by singing and dancing outrages
The last dinner was a special treat with aurora of rich culture old and new
Participation of Prince Alexandar and all sundry and entertainment of all hew
With classic band and dances, the compere was also a person of class
His touches of humor made paper man’s ‘tricks and Japanese dance nicely pass
A sitting in the church of lady on the last day was soul enriching
And briefing of the guide of city tour, a lady of letters, truly bewitching
Our experience surpassed of all in past if any
So we say, was it Saxony Asia or Asia Saxony?
I used to have cheese as a slice
Boring , but it still tasted nice
Then in Christmas 23
I had a present bought for me
What a marvel, what a sight
Greeted my eyes that Christmas night
For a while I had been waiting
Now unwrapped, I could start grating !
Wife said “put it away now, do it later “
“No” said I - “give me my rotary grater”
I grated cheddar, then tried Brie,
Even a nice grilled halloumi.
I was quite the artisan
With a block of Parmesan
The piles of cheese grew bigger
And the family could not figure
Why on that family Boxing Day
I would grate, grate, grate away
Fat grate , thin grate , powder grate
Adorned the Christmas dinner plate
My wife with eyes now wide and round,
Said “ My oh my, that’s quite a mound !
“ I shaped the cheese into a wreath
And said “if bits stick in your teeth “
“Don’t reach out for the dental picks,
“ Jan’s also sent some dentastix”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Its dial spins like a clock unwound,
each number a moon,
each click landline bound.
Long live that landline~
its coiled tongue, its stubborn whine,
the way it clung to the wall like a vine,
rooted deep in the plaster’s spine.
Operator, oh operator,
can you hear the hum in the wire?
The ghost of a voice, half-laugh, half-fire,
static lullabies, crackling pyre.
Long live the landline~
the weight of the receiver,
the pause before hello,
the way we listened
to breath, to silence,
to the miles between us
stretched thin as a filament.
Now the signals fly, untethered,
but the cord was a vein,
and the ring~
oh, the ring was a heartbeat
without a name.
you may read the related memoir vignette at: poetrysoup.com/short_stories/long_live_the_landline_13674