MORSE CODE
All night long on short wave radio
the operator's hand tapped morse code
like a woodpecker's beak
oblique, sustained with poise and nerve
call sign first then a launch
of identity into chaos
threading out skeining across
the curve of the earth.
Persistent, insistent
and after coffees brewed
the curling unattended cigarette grounded,
a sign of recognition at last,
back from the dark ages
like the touch of a spider's web
signals like atoms in an atmosphere
morse code bleating,
bouncing balls on waves of sound.
dotdot
dotdashdotdot
dashdashdash
dotdotdotdash
dot
dashdotdashdot
dashdashdash
dotdotdash.
The woodpecker hand restrained
for the stream to ride into view
he turned and smiled,
looked much younger, relieved
the message decoded:
"I LOVE YOU."
raypool
Sun 9th Oct 2016 18:37
Thanks Colin for commenting. The problem with a tale like this is it can raise (or lower) expectations of an outcome. Bouncing balls could be the Dambusters, but just an image in fact. I have altered that line ; I wasn't quite happy with it either. Nice to have you in Blighty again!
Thanks David for your thoughts. Yes, the message theme was intended as you mentioned. I think my ending to this was just a sudden inspiration , but I think the attraction for the radio ham was always the undiscovered , and also the community aspect though invisible. I very much take your points and agree totally.
A perceptive take as always.