The other day
I had to call Vodafone and talk
to a human
He said his name was Royston
He spoke clearly and carefully
His English was very good
Even though I’m a native
hearer
I understood
every word
He took in what I said
and didn’t interrupt
He was helpful
courteous
friendly but not too familiar
and probably getting paid
fuck-all
The next day Vodafone
or perhaps its agency
called
me
Another young man
with very good English
reading from a script
He asked me to rate
Royston
out of 10
on his knowledge
his manner
and how satisfied I was
overall
At first I tried to be honest
Gave him 8
for knowledge
since I’d had only
a taste
But then I thought
about what it might mean
for Royston
A human
I gave him 10 for the rest
If only they’d ask me to rate
their menu system!
To get next to Royston
takes several minutes
Hi! I’m Lisa! goes the computer
Tell me what you’re looking for!
My tongue
doesn’t have
the appropriate
words
I’m fighting through a hedge with a blunt knife
I’m trying to make friends
with a psychopath
It refers to itself as “me”
as if it has
lovely hair
a pretty smile
and a brain full of facts
Its Aussie-girl voice has been bought
from some agency
and chosen to satisfy
not a middle-aged straight
smart woman
but the more important
customers
In the 21st century
if you go to a brothel
do they ask you afterwards
to rate out of 10
the prostitute’s knowledge of sex
her friendliness
and how satisfied you were
overall?