she awakens to the hum
of her phone vibrating
as usual
        she creeps out of
the room to take
the call,
                so careful
not to wake me.
  
         But I am awake,
a ringing in my ears
                and you are
   on my mind.

In the other room,
I hear the smile in
her voice, and I know
it's her boy
her boy that left for Chicago

She is so happy
for those five minutes
of phone conversation

          Her voice
gives her away.
                       She still loves him

After saying goodbye,
she comes back in the
room,      crawls back
into bed.


I ask, "How is he?"

She is so full of
relief
            at hearing his
voice



            and she has no idea


                              how much I would pay
                      for five minutes
                                 of phone conversation
                  
                                                    with you