The Phone Chimes
The phone chimes
Before I answer it,
I look to see
if the caller is someone
I know.
The call is identified only
as Olive Hill, Kentucky.
I answer it.
I recognized the woman’s voice.
Before she asks me
if I will judge the poetry contest
sponsored by her
poetry group,
the words:
I remember the year
that Clayton Delaney died
ring in my ears.
Of course I will,
I tell her.
We talk about writing,
hers and mine, briefly.
Afterwards,
I think about words
& how poets look for truth
& I hear a familiar voice:
It’s faster horses,
younger women,
Older whiskey,
and more money…
6 thoughts on "The Phone Chimes"
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Tom T. Spoke Truth
good poem
great thing about lexpomo & internet: you can immediately search what the poet’s up to.
Thanks for turning me on to Tom T’s lyric: “I can see him half stoned pick in/up the Lovesick Blues
Jim, I’m happy you turned to the internet to understand this poem. It says much about you…
I like the musical deficit disorder in your poem. Who is distracting whom?
Tom T. Hall’s songs are interrupting not so much distracting. Tom T. Hall’s home was in Olive Hill, Kentucky, but he moved closer to Nashville, Tennessee when his career put him at the top of the charts. He a poet, story teller, and novelist. Just the appearance of Olive Hill, Kentucky gave this poem turn to one of praise… Thanks for reading and asking the question.
The comments, back and forth, open this poem up for me! Because I don’t know his music, I thought that Clayton Delaney was the singer. More to look up! Thanks!