L E T T E R S

What else used to keep families in close touch ?
Outside the phone it used to be cards, letters and such.
The mail person was awaited with anticipation and mostly joy-
but then again, there were those nasty bills to much annoy.

Letter writing used to be an art-good handwriting was admired,
whereas now after typewriters, the computer is so desired.
Both these gadgets took personality out of communication,
there is nothing like some nice writing to lead to much elation.

Printed congratulations now take personality out of the message,
where once personal communication celebrated any rite of passage.
Goose feathers, pen and ink were what got us in touch,
they showed that the time spent on this meant ever so much.

Handwriting will soon suffer or it might just all disappear -
to express one's feelings will be handled by machine only, I fear.
Thus another piece of yourself will bite the proverbial dust :
to sit down and write something by hand will be no longer a must !


OTTO ROSS

January 2011