THE TELEPHONE

Centuries ago, I’d miles tread

Like the tortoise

To one message deliver.

Within less than a microsecond

I myriad messages can send

Today with a button

Because of the telephone.

It’s come to suffering expel

And real comfort share.

Yet with it, great liars excel

So corruption isn’t rare.

It’s come to great knowledge impart

And the world lead to success.

Yet with immorality it fills the heart

And harms its users to excess.

So ’tis both useful and deadly:

Yet its usefulness or deadliness

Depends on me!

If I use it wisely, to me it will be useful;

If unwisely, to me it will be deadly.

This is why many souls have lived and many died

Because of the telephone.

ISAAC ESSOUN