Calling Long Distance (Poetry)

Sometimes I wake
with the names of long-gone lovers
on my tongue —
a litany of half-remembered ghosts
called upon
as though I had good reason.

They shadow the sun
an echo at my shoulder all the day
not quite fading
loathe to once again be on their way
they hang around and haunt
uncertainly.

My voice distorted —
thrown across the years a loop of sound
trawling air for answers
that vague sense of urgency flown
the moment I wake — discover
time’s moved on...

Still infrequently I summon them
and my purpose is ever-harder to explain
each unplanned time
for there are no rules in dreams —
why the heart suddenly calls long distance
then disconnects again.