Telephone Exchange Poem by Michael Maxwell Steer

The myths that govern our lives
are like great looms of wiring
in telephone exchanges -
meaningless to most.

The days when a caller's message
could be connected directly
to the receiver's line
are just a distant memory.

Now we find connections
more uncertain, often
crossed lines lead to meanings
far from our intentions.

Unless ideas are encoded
in the appropriate format,
most recipients' mailboxes
bounce them back unread.

To alter collective perception
it's not enough to dial
Buckingham Palace & wait
to be put throu to the Queen!


1/11/06