I have no poetry for you today

I was on the phone for an hour

and a half

with a girl I have never had a conversation 

beyond you go, and you rock, and see ya later

and in phone time

that's a long time

and I know it wasn't a real conversation

because I was trying to figure out

all the things I could do and still be there

to say yeah?

of course

and I agree

And you would think if it was one of those one sided talks

that it did not affect me

but while she was talking 

I was collecting her words

and listening

and calculating what to say 

when it was needed 

and I was being changed 

She told me her stories 

and I recorded them:

I can see the life I would have

I can smell the cake batter

I can see us laughing 

puzzling, and talking of matters of the heart

because that's what we did

In my mind I tell myself I would be happy

I know I'd be happy 

In my mind it's all happy

but for four years

he was leading a double life

She went on to talk about figuring out herself

and in the end she thanked me

and promised to call again

and she was gone

feeling relief

I suppose

for having someone else lift the burden 

of caring her tears

and her past 

she left me with a new piece in my heart

something borrowed 

and exhausted