so what's up, we haven't talked for a while?

we used to talk

weekly

if not daily, long talks

on the phone

with John

and Dave,

Steve and Mike, Debbie

and Lynnie,

Gary

and Joan,

Lisa and Mary,

Neva.

my son of course and

my mother

and dad.

but all have passed on,

or no longer

pick up

unless they need money

or a ride

to the airport.

we talked in phone booths,

in hotel

rooms, noisy bars,

from the train,

land lines

and cell phones.

they were not superficial

conversations,

they were

talks that showed

who we really were,

troubled or happy,

in between love

or jobs,

or in the midst of joy

or turning over

a new leaf, hoping

that this time it would stick.

if the phone rings now,

it's none of them,

just some dude in India

selling

Medicare Insurance,

the A and B plan

with an added flex card

for food.