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Emergency Broadcast System

GEORGE MURRAY

From the collection of poems Whiteout, published by ECW Press in 2012.This is only a test. At the long tonewe will begin. At the long tone we will end.At the long tone it is time for the news.At the long tone you may begin to write.When the bell rings you may rise to leave.When the bells ring you may choose to flee.The strike of the clock marks another birth.The strike of the clock leaves welts shaped like hands.Striking the clock marks another morning.As the short tone sounds, events will unfold.As the short tone sounds, the time will be right.At the bell you will begin to salivate.The experiment will begin when the tollreaches all ears. The experiment willbegin when the topless lady wrings outthe last of her clothes. The experimentinvolves pealing and will be double blind.There are two strips of cloth for each ding you hear.Please put them on, then record and report.Ignore the mewl of the cat in the box.The mewl of the cat in the box has norelevance. Whether alive or deadat the end of the experiment, youmust ignore all complaints from the cat.Your first responsibility is tothe sound of the tone. Forget the cat.Focus instead on the topless lady.You have been provided with paper for notes.You must take only the notes that are sungto you. If you cannot hear the notes, youmay be shocked by the provided visuals.The visuals will provide some context,but will be shocking for some audiences.The boom of the howitzer may make you jump.The boom of the howitzer will connoteimportance. The silver trumpets’ peal willannounce a king arriving or leaving.The chime will call you in for tea and cake.The chime is pleasant, but cannot be ignored.As the chime sounds, birds will fall dead from the trees.The chime will signal your imminent passingfrom one bicycle lane to the next.The klaxon will sound loudly in warning.The klaxon also cannot be ignored.The klaxon will note the start of the baggagecarousel. The horn will give you the frightof your life. The ringing of metal meansswords have been drawn. The ringing of metalcan never be good. The trolley’s clangmight remind you of something fond and sweet.The trolley’s clang might remind you of yourforgotten suitcase. The whistle of the trainmeans all are aboard and accounted for.The whistle of the train used to bein the distance. The whistle of the trainnow comes with a bright light. At the long tone,the experiment is set to begin.At the long tone you may begin to run.Each pulse of your blood will count for one beat.Each beat of your blood will be considereda long tone. For today’s purposes,each pulse of your blood will be a starterpistol in the distance, through water,and echoed. Remember, this is only a test.

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GEORGE MURRAY

George Murray is a poet whose previous works include Glimpse: Selected Aphorisms, The Rush to Here and The Hunter. He is also the editor and operator of Bookninja.com. He lives in St. John's, Newfoundland.


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