One hundred and twenty-one years ago today, in spite of all adversity

A nearby city became an even greater landmark than it already was

For not only does it house perhaps the most famous of all universities

It also began the very first telephone exchange with a simple coin toss



For there were only ten local subscribers at the exact time of its opening ...

And connections between them needed to be made to start the whole thing

So a simple procedure was used to choose who should talk first to who ...

Beginning an avalanche of communication with more trunks than a zoo



So, today, we salute the innovation not only of Alexander Graham Bell

But also the city that started utilizing the telephone in a way so swell

For it houses one of the oldest and grandest of the country's schools ...

And Yalies should also be proud it boasts the founding of this great tool



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

7:10am Thurs. Jan. 28th, 1999