The telephone used to ring a lot
You see it in old movies
Heroes fumbling for their change
Being pelted with rain
Pursued, hiding, and afraid
There’s only one way out
In the middle of seduction
In the parlor, lights down low
The faithful always called
The criminal element laughed
The line went dead
And it fell off the cradle
Phone booths were everywhere
Lined up in the railroad stations
City street corners; travelers
Made it from town to town
Overseas, on time, in love
Carrying pocket maps
The telephone in our house
Hung on the kitchen wall
A second one in the bedroom
When they rang, we noticed
And always took the call
You never knew who it would be
Sweepstakes or a relative
Christmas wishes, happy birthday
Long talks with a trusted friend
Short talks with a secret crush
After mustering up your nerve
You’d wait to call again
Photo: ©Julie Anderson
