telephone in ivory, the real mccoy
a re-con retro 1970s GPO model with
rotary dial, designed when numbers
were only five digits long
cradle the handle and croon the news
they explained in counselling
you might well live forever
waltzing the passageway
in a paisley shirt stippled with sequins
silver tipped walking stick
all the time believing
therapy, positive
that death will creep on you in old age
when teeth rattle in sockets
now and now only
swig out the bottle
you almost love your virus, baby
so funkin retro.
