does that phone work with crumpets?

does that phone work with crumpets?

i have a toaster,

a useful appliance –

it can make toast

elevate a teacake

crisp a crumpet

(eventually)

even warm through a pitta

or a wrap in a crisis,

a helpful, time-saving

appliance, i think

most would agree

despite its worth

as an appliance,

i do not need to carry my toaster around all day,

panic when i pat down myself down

and find it isn’t there,

nor do i need my toaster

to tell me that people love me,

validate me with its constant presence

despite its wonderful ability

to feed me,

i do not spend ten hours a day

gazing at it, talking to it;

holding it close

it is an appliance,

no more – no less,

and however helpful

it might be,

it would be utterly ridiculous

to carry it around all day,

take it with me on a walk,

wave it around indiscriminately

whilst climbing a mountain,

base my life choices,

on the whims

of an electrical appliance

and yet…