I’m sorry,
Person of the Call Center,
Interceptor of Corporate’s
Shitty Endeavors,
Underpaid Mediator,
and now
Recipient of my Anger,
I know you’re
the bearer
of all our displeasures,
I know this isn’t
your personal
error,
but he cancelled that account
last November.
We did it to the letter.
Oh, Person of the Call Center,
don’t make me re-holler
at my ex-partner, it’s
just that it’s better
when he is farther…
Okay—explaining that would be
harder than defining
exactly
what makes an abuser
or a predator,
or a naive
woman-girl.
(It’s more unclear
than what Lifetime producers
would have you believe).
Anyway, Person of the Call Center,
interaction with him is a trigger
that fills me with fear,
or maybe its anger—
either way,
now
I’m the Reactor
of Impotent Disaster, now
I’m the Reckoner
with an Uncontrollable Temper, now
I’m the Attacker
a Misdirected Heckler—
and I know this is the opposite
of what you deserve.
Oh, Person of the Call Center,
I hope your co-worker
said “Forget her”
I hope you
said, “Who?”
one moment later.
I hope your whole life is
more tender,
the people you love
much sweeter,
your tie to yourSelf
stronger, and
as for me,
Person of the Call Center,
I promise
I’m getting better.
Published in Cider Press Review, Volume 24, Issue 4.
Colleen Kam Siu explores themes of ontology, identity, and transformation with poetry, visual art, and humor. Her work has appeared in the Evening Street Review, POETiCA Review, Fahmidan Journal, Witches Mag, and Two Hawks Quarterly. She has written extensively on the topic of death and dying for the online magazine, SevenPonds. Her chapbook of poetry and paintings, Elements of Being, will be available Fall of 2022. Learn more at colleenkamsiu.com.
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