He stood on the beach.
The sun climbed from a clouded horizon.
Incongruously, his phone beckoned:
A vibration in the pocket.

Hello, he said,
How are you?
Not good, she said,
Sad and poor.

She told her tale
While he said,
Yes . . . yes . . .
Yes . . .

She said,
You’re all right,
You have . . .
I know, he said.

You have
An emotional focus,
She said.

Just so, he said.
Exactly.