Remote Control Poem by Melati Hussein

I watched his fingers caress the remote control
Forefinger and thumb slowly circling, an apparent act of love
And in the past I wished such acts had been dedicated to me
I would take his hand in mine gently, and there it would lie like lead.
Of course most evenings I still watch the same scene,
But I no longer wish the same thing
I wish that he were someone else
I wish that he was you
But we have rarely spent an evening together sitting on a couch
And I wonder if love has become even more remote, beyond my control
I wonder if you remember that I’m actually flesh and blood
And not one of your social network, never met, friends
I long for your hands, your eyes, your kiss
I relish every second communicating on the phone
I listen to your sounds, your pauses, your breath
And I look at his hands, not sure if my loneliness will seek out his
Aware that we are remote and I’m out of control.