Switchboard Operator in the Sky
By Michael Roque

A billion ears
pressed to receivers
hoping to hear someone speak—
Who’s on the line?
A secretive whisper,
an impatient shriek—
Infinite words and tones
turning a wired mind—
into a blown fuse.

Unseen among buzzing hums,
static pops, metallic fumes,
our soft-voiced switchboard operator—
connecting, disconnecting us all
on her planet-wide panel—
in her inaccessible room.

Why does she take so many innocent jacks
pining for transfer to Perseus—
and plug them into black holes?

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Michael Roque discovered his passion for poetry and prose among friends on the bleachers of Pasadena City College. Now residing in the Middle East, he draws inspiration from the bustling, tumultuous life around him. His work has appeared in literary magazines and anthologies worldwide, including award-winning publications such as North Dakota Quarterly, The Queen’s Review, The Roanoke Rambler, Poetry Super Highway, and many others.