they call at night 

sharing what they got 

running down the list   

we start to talk 

 

voice changes 

pauses grow 

something softens 

goes low 

 

and loneliness seems 

a small price for all this 

unhappiness hidden 

in blurs of purchases 

 

giving encouragement 

prying little we apply 

love from a distance 

humor from a lifetime 

 

of wanting and watching 

crying and waiting 

living with these decisions 

while making other mistakes