Calling New Friends

Lift phone with grease fingers

Ponder the address book

Drop phone back down and

Care for you / care for you so.

Pace the carpets and linoleum

Ponder words shared so far

Drop the worrisome past and

Care for you / care for you so.

Just to dial one half number,

Write poetry to keep on hiding,

Watch Autumn Sun fading and

Heavy clouds / can?t call, can?t speak.

Drag back into homework chore.

White sheets and black words stare.

I pick up the phone, letting it

Dangle there:

Answering machine

Click (pace, pace).

College obligations, then

Donation man at the door, then

Spoon out mint chip ice cream,

Gobbling between glances

At papers / cold fingers.

Music drowns away flutter thought.

Telephone is silent.

What should you care?

Oh, nothing you?ll hear.

Copyright 2004, Ryland J. Kayin Lee