1/14/2003

Though
money back
was the inducement
for buying
what
he bought
from the company
he never got a cent
their promise
paying instead
for the creation of
a mighty menu tree
with enough
false leads
and dead ends
to dissuade you
from holding on
long enough
to reach
the human being
who would put you
on hold
until you slipped
unnoticed
into history
deliberately chosen
for this purpose.
He has not
lost hope
though
he cannot imagine
where
something better
is going
to come from
when
we continue to insist
this is business
as it
should be done
things
not yet bad enough
to scuttle
that party line
with
no further reservations.
First exchange
of the day
variations cropping up
of their own accord
in other conversations
before nightfall
each failing
to arrive at
any solution
but hope.