Poetry by John Grey

THIS AGE OF OPTIONS
 
It's the thing I despise most of all.
My fingers hover over
the touch tone buttons.
I'd rather break up a relationship.
I dial the number.
Why can't they reintroduce conscription?
Why can't I be the first they choose?
The voice answers:
"Please listen carefully
because the options have changed."
But some options never change.
I'd rather have eye surgery.
I'd prefer developing a boil on my leg
and then having it lanced.
If you are calling about a new problem,
press 1.
If you are calling regarding a previous problem,
press 2.
That's how it was the last time.
The options have not changed.
Give me a fall on the ice any day.
Why not a car accident, me and the pole...
anything but this robot.
But no, I press 1
and am given more choices.
I pick one of those
and this opens me up to an array
of further numbers.
I'd love to speak to somebody…anybody
but there's no way that can happen.
I can only choose a number
that's a front for other numbers.
Why don't I just call my worst enemy.
Or the dentist and schedule a root canal.
Oh doctor, are you free for a spinal tap?
What's pain compared to human contact.
Press 1 for more options.
Press 2 for the previous menu.
Press 3 to return to the menu before that.
My mother is so old she remembers a time
when you could speak to a real person.
Ah, at last, press 4 if you'd rather be so old.




THE HOMELESS MAN AND THE CAMERA

He knows
a picture
is worth a
thousand words,
which is why
he says nothing
when he finds
the camera,
is wary
that it might
suddenly click,
take a snapshot
of a face
he hasn't seen in years.




GETTING

There are only two poems
in me:
the one where I get the girl
and the one where I don't.
There was a third poem
where the girl
came and went of her own free will
and no getting,
successful or otherwise,
was involved.
Only I didn't write it.
I'm not even certain
it was a poem.



Bio: John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident. Recently published in the Tau, Studio One and Columbia Review with work upcoming in Naugatuck River Review, Examined Life Journal and Midwest Quarterly.