My Lovely Telephone Poem by Sarah Everson

He called,
I knew the ring,
my kitchen chair,
the bloody dog,
freshly mopped tiles,
TV too loud,
gluteal landing.
Helloooooooooo?
Yes, yes, of course
I know,
have not forgotten,
it's the rasp,
no, not a lisp,
you don't,
I'm...fine NOW,
meaning I have been
quite fine,
and also now,
no, not expected this,
my hair is messed
and there are stains
I got some berries
from the Farmer's,
no, to freeze,
it works still, yeah,
you should have called,
before,
how silly, Dan,
I mean how silly me,
how could you call
to say you'd call,
I'm not myself today,
a headache, yes,
well more a throat
could well be strep,
no, it's much better now,
and surely not contagious,
plus men have such immunity,
look at yourself,
a SPECIMEN
to say the least.
Don't say that,
you are NOT a beast,
I didn't realize,
I'd bring you coins,
just tell the operator
you are on with me,
just kidding though
I would, it's no big deal,
come down to feed
a hundred coins
into the damn machine,
so you can talk
and spend more time,
that's true,
I told you
I am not my best today,
you kinda caught me,
unawares,
oh no, don't go
oh, yes of course,
they'd give you change,
a drugstore must,
they'd be remiss
to turn a man away.

But Dan,
why don't you
.........................come...
in person,
are you far away?
I'd tidy up
the place and we could
speak,
and see each other
simultaneously.
Wow, that is wonderful,
please watch the ice,
the Lion's Gate is bad,
has been all week,
they don't use salt,
just sand,
so take your time
and I will be
quite thrilled,
but never mind,
it means I really would
be on the moon
or is it over,
silly cow I am,
you called me cow,
do you remember,
no, no fighting
and no specific plan.
I s'pose you still
like Jack, your sour mash,
I've never touched
it has been waiting
just like me.
I do have ice, oh yes.
I will be here,
won't go nowhere,
okay, it's quite okay!

My kitchen chair,
the bloody dog,
freshly mopped tiles,
gluteal landing.
I am a MESS.
Wash hair,
blow dry,
1 minute shower,
four dabs of Aviance
turn off TV
and dim the lights,
a tiny bit,
Frans Liszt,
Hungarian Rhapsody
and Nappa Valley Red.
I am so happy
I could scream
to scare the wildebeest!