The 8-8-8 # The call-in date The simple prompts One imagines hearing After getting through, Press one! Press two! Do they keep trying Or sigh in frustration After three dozen calls, Or do they Keep On Going, these unlucky few, 7.8% & rising, These Americans That didn’t Make the skeleton crews: A-list players That got too testy, too expensive, B-listers That didn’t help the bottom line, enough C listers & team players Given no instructions Except, “ËœDon’t Come Back’ The voices inside your head, The taunting voice, the one that says It’s not like you’re calling the cable company & wires are down, or you need help you just bought something expensive & complicated & you’re the customer & you’re always right & you’re following up on a warranty, No! no! no! the voices tell you It’s not like that Not like that at all