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manual typewriter

July 1, 2019 by Michael Guerin

not the modern kind
but vintage, an antique
model with a black frame
and just the right
amount of rust (some
might say “patina”) made
by underwood.

each key punch sends
a lettered arm flying upwards
to slap against the drum
with a satisfying thud
(though the “g”
still feels a bit sticky
even after liberal
amounts of wd-40).

now a showpiece,
i imagine the woman
who could type sixty words
a minute on this machine
as her boss droned on
mechanically. (sadly,
by “boss” i meant
“man” and by “woman”

i meant “secretary”)
because that’s how roles
used to play back in the day
when conformity was pre-
ordained and people
only expected to know
their “place.”

(for eleanor roosevelt)

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About Michael Guerin

writer, dreamer, lover, seeker. labels never reach the heart of any matter, but they might be a place to start...

Season One of The Wanderer Dramatic Podcast available on Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify and here as well.

titles available on amazon.com

Flowers for Rumi
beneath the waves
Found & Lost
Nature Speaks
still life
between black & white
mind & machine
world thru a window
Ghosts, Flames & Ashes

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