Brett Hursey

Siren

There was no denying
her voice was her best feature–
a soft, husky drawl
that stopped traffic
in express lines
and customer service
when she announced
hardware and plumbing
specials over the intercom.

Waiters often asked her
to repeat orders,
just to hear her say
Spinach salad and french bread, please

and there was always a crowd
around the drive-through window
when she deposited her paycheck
and child support:
Ya'll have a nice day, now.

But it was the telemarketers
that made her laugh the laugh
that turned heads
at Little League games–

how the men who started off
trying to see her time-shares
and long-distance service,
often wound up calling
long after their shifts were over–

eager to catch another whiff
of her velveteen voice,
teased out of cold-calls
and copper line.