You sit. You wait. You're present. No agenda.
The TV blares away the day's news. You notice,
the room of waiting is full of people in pain.
The people sit, wait, too, a veritable integration
of gender, age, race, class, and (you imagine)
creed or cult, probably community, as well.
It starts. First, behind you. Then, to one side.
Next, the other side. Again, behind the post
in front of you. Ringgggggggggggggggggggg.
Ringing. Relentless ringing surrounds you.
Eventually, there's talking. Human voices.
Contact, interaction, social intercourse.
Private conversations, utterly public. Share
the news. Make appointments. Tell gossip.
Chit-chat about nothing, or next to it.
Nonstop transmission of fine points about
family outings; work assignments; school calendars; stocks; sports; medications.
Personal details about particular lives that
once upon a time would be strictly between
the persons involved and providence.
Now there this way comes, creeping into
the social contract, a sense of freedom so
pervasive as to constitute empowerment.
From out of the bowels of The Electronic Age
there is rising a new capacity for listening in
on the other, a low authority for eavesdropping.
Any time, any place, it makes no difference.
You need not apply, sign up, or request a court
order, not even an invitation is required.
Simply be in the vicinity, the proximity of One
Who Wields The Magic Wand. Instant intimacy.
Can you hear them now?
