THE OLD TELEPHONE (Poem #151)

The telephone is a wonderful invention,
 Calling all kinds of things to your attention.

Keeping in touch with family and friends,
 There's all sorts of information it sends.

 You must come to work, we need more help.
A neighbor saying your dog has started to yelp.

 Living in the country and having a party line
 Meant others could listen to you at the same time.

 When the phone rang, we had to carefully listen
 To which ring was ours or a call we'd be missing.

 Our ring was 3 short, but there were 3 others
 Who may listen in if it were not for their mothers.

 We'd all give a jolt at the very first sound
 When off to the telephone we surely were bound.

 Standing there waiting for those 3 short rings
 For a call just for us as the telephone sings.

 © Copyright 1998 by Jean E. Gorney