To All Appearances A Lady - University of British Columbia
To All Appearances A Lady - University of British Columbia
To All Appearances A Lady - University of British Columbia
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Steven<br />
Heighton<br />
Elegy as a message left on an<br />
answering machine<br />
Hello, you've reached 542-8942. I'm unable to answer the phone<br />
just now, but just leave a message after the beep and I'll be sure<br />
to return your call.<br />
Goodbye for now<br />
Won't bother waiting up for you<br />
to get back to me on this one. Waste <strong>of</strong> time.<br />
My dime<br />
in a bar by the water, your factory-new<br />
answering machine is—like anything bereaved—still<br />
full <strong>of</strong> your words, the waves<br />
<strong>of</strong> your voice, the nervous laugh that gave us,<br />
sometimes, "cause" to laugh. And which we now miss. Well,<br />
human nature. I say Fuck my own. I own<br />
up: this stinks. <strong>To</strong>o late<br />
to erase all the crap, a Watergate<br />
<strong>of</strong> gossip, <strong>of</strong>f-hand words, no time to phone—<br />
in those last minute changes, additions, to say<br />
what we find it so impossible to say—<br />
I find. So cut all this can't<br />
come to the phone right now can't, I don't<br />
buy it, I figure you're in there somewhere, still<br />
screening your calls, you<br />
secretive bastard, pick up the phone right now if you<br />
would hear a friend. Don't stall,<br />
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