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Spoken version
A recorded reading of “Paper Cup Telephone”. If the player does not load, use the original audio source.
Your number rings into rain. The speaker cracks against my ear while a paper cup rolls to the kerb, opening and closing its mouth. I had practised a better version of myself all afternoon. When you answer, it leaves. A taxi horn lifts between us. The red light holds. I say: I left when I was scared. I say: I made you smaller than the fear. The line is quiet long enough to become its own room. Then: I heard it all. The cup settles in the gutter.
Lyrics
(bzz-bzz) Your number rings into the rain. The speaker cracks against my ear. I practise what I should have said. Then lose it when you answer clear. A paper cup rolls by my shoe. I still cannot say your name. I have ten seconds of courage. Then the signal starts to fall. If I do not say it plainly. I will not say it at all. Say it through the paper cup. Say it before the line goes dead. Say it through the paper cup. Say the thing inside your head. A taxi horn becomes a warning. A red light becomes a sign. I say I left when I was scared. I say I made you small. The line goes quiet for a beat. Then you say, I heard it all. No perfect speech. (bzz-bzz) Just a voice that stayed. Say it through the paper cup. Say it before the line goes dead. Say it through the paper cup. Say the thing inside your head. (rrr)
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