Payphone
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Derelict on laundry mat wall,
painted in markings like a frat boy waking without shoes or bearings. Perished apple core, frayed headphone wire entomb the privacy hood. 10 digits smeared in who knows what, beyond recognition. Hook switch gone, phantom-tongue, metallic coils around halved receiver, jaw-broke. As a kid I’d see them in rows, and the occasional man preying on the change slots. A few years ago even, getting asked for half a buck to call sweetheart back home, check up on the folks, an extension on a bill to get the heat up & running |