By Charles Albano   CharlesAlbano@webtv.net
Date: 17 April 1998

Call-Waiting

I tried to reassure her
of my love,
like I said,
but couldn't connect;
she put me on hold
instead,
with the casual ease
of a lady removing a glove.
What did she say?
Not much, I recollect,
that wasn't stale or cold.
Operator, please!
There must be a way,
to get past her absent gaze,
but hell,
what can I do--
she puts me on hold
to take another call--
and it goes against my grain
to raise my voice
and barge on through
when she's in some mental shopping mall,
and I'm out in the rain,
on call....
waiting.


(c) Charles Albano, 1998