11-27-2023, 11:31 PM
The Loud Button
I poke it with
the rubbery tip
of my telescoping rod
and she calmly
though falsely responds,
“FIRE. FIRE.”
Accompanied by frantic electronic shrieks
at rock-concert decibels.
Then to add spice and variety
to this command performance
she alters lyrics to
“WARNING. CARBON MONOXIDE.”
Also repeated and re-echoed
by her networked sister
fire-and-smoke detectors
when I poke their
hard-to-hit test buttons
on my ceiling.
Then their lights
turn green and all is well
until next week
unless a smoky fry-up intervenes.
I poke it with
the rubbery tip
of my telescoping rod
and she calmly
though falsely responds,
“FIRE. FIRE.”
Accompanied by frantic electronic shrieks
at rock-concert decibels.
Then to add spice and variety
to this command performance
she alters lyrics to
“WARNING. CARBON MONOXIDE.”
Also repeated and re-echoed
by her networked sister
fire-and-smoke detectors
when I poke their
hard-to-hit test buttons
on my ceiling.
Then their lights
turn green and all is well
until next week
unless a smoky fry-up intervenes.
Non-practicing atheist