Australian Reindeer

Australian Reindeer

I’m waiting in the queue

To buy my concession postage stamps

Finally, at the counter

I present my Australian Post Card

Yet another plastic piece to scan

“Sorry” said the the office clerk

“But you been archived”

My mind goes clunk

“What does that mean”

I said to the clerk

“But I’m here, mostly alive”

“You’ll have to call Australia Post”

Oh well, away I go to phone-up

I’m waiting in the queue

On hold for twenty minutes

Finally, “Hello sir, can I help you.”

After giving him my personal details

I explain my situation

That the computer said

“I’ve been archived!”

The operator said, “That’s strange. Please wait.”

After a few minutes, he speaks

“Hello Ivor.” (he knows my name!)

“It seems you’ve been deleted from the system”

Now, my old-timer’s brain

Grinds to a paniced halt

Not only only have I been archived

But now I’m deleted!

Am I digitally dead

Has my cyberspace cloud flown south

After a few minutes the operator again speaks

“Don’t worry Ivor.”

I swipe the robotic dribble from my chin

“If you use your same card number”

“And apply for a renewal”

“You’ll be re-installed into our system”

Re-installed, that sounds positive

So off I trudge

Back to the Post Office

To fill in the application form

Here I am again

I’m waiting in the queue

So this is Christmas!

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019