having, anyway, climbed a ladder
to find a shiny penny on top
the man who called 911
merciful gent, he
like paper kites, the fallen have risen
And once again I whisper, "Wrong number."
Twisting the cold cord around my finger,
Sitting there, as cool as a cucumber
Still knowing why I will always linger
It's you, it's you, I know that haunting voice
Somewhere on the other end of the line,
I'm listening, as if I had a choice ...
To the same ghost in this tired ear of mine
You're truly making a long distance call
And just who's to argue, when it's your dime,
Ringing my old number, to tell me all ...
Showing up yet again on borrowed time
While my teary eyes close, nearing slumber
And once again I whisper, "Wrong number."
There I was about to telephone
a friend who used to live next door
he moved away up the country
thought I better before time moves on more
But when I rang the number
I said who was speaking
the person answering sounded so polite
so think I my brain must be leaking
I asked who this person was
she said I am lady of the manor
would you like to visit my estate?
I take it you saw my banner
So I really didn't know what to say
I explained about my friend
oh she said you mean my gardener
I'll call my butler for him I'll send
The butler said he's away today
to visit a friend in the south they say
just then someone rang my bell
when I opened door there was my friend Ray
Ray thought he'd come to visit me
having left next door many months ago
he asked who was I on phone to?
it's a lady of a manor I say so
So one wrong number caused all this
it really was such a confusion
I asked Ray who this lady was
oh he says the wife you mean Susan!
The Wrong Number
By Elton Camp
On a his 800 call, old Lucius got one digit incorrect
So to an unexpected business his call it did direct
A real person came on, “Darling, how’re you today?”
That was what a sultry voice immediately had to say
“I’d just love to talk dirty to you my handsome friend.
There’s just one thing you must know before we begin.
Although I think you’re sexy and I like you so very fine,
There’s a charge based on how long we’re on the line.”
That a woman could be so crass, Lucius was shocked
His idea about the virtue of the fair sex was rocked
To such a proposition, he didn’t know how to replay
So he slammed down the receiver and didn’t even try
E.T.
Kind-hearted alien
asked his friend: “Can I phone home?”
Elliott nervously replied: “Will it be a collect call?”
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.