Caren Krutsinger Poet Prose Poetry

Same Phone Call Every Week

I am depressed, stressed, anxious, she said.
I advised her to help someone else.
There is no better way to lighten your load
She claimed it would not work
Without trying it

I had no time left to listen to her whining
I had children to play with, and lunch to cook.
Get a dog or a cat, I advised her. Get outside of yourself.
She tried to moan more at me, but I had given her my best shot
And she had no other people to call,
For she has alienated everyone else who ever knew her

Every week the same phone call, like a broken record.
Each time I give her ideas about what she could do to help others.
Volunteer at a grade school, read a story to someone who is vision impaired,
Take a meal to someone who just had surgery
It wouldn’t work, she always says
Because she does not know that it always does
But I do, which is why I keep calling her, trying to lighten her load

Also it is a reminder to me that life is good,
As long as I am helping others, and feel I have purpose
I will never stop trying to help her
Because when I help her, I help myself
Every time she says I am so glad I have you,
it uplifts me and puts a little extra zing in my step.

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Quoth Theraven July 24, 2021 at 9:01 PM Caren, Flawless advice in a poem, wonderful lifeline in a friend. One that listens, one with a great big warm heart. You've helped so many, including me. -Richard Caren Krutsinger July 25, 2021 at 7:51 PM Thank you Richard; what a lovely thing to say!

L Milton Hankins July 24, 2021 at 7:44 PM I can understand that. I just don't know how you expend that little extra zing! Draw up another canvas? Write another poem? Just add it to your storehouse of boundless energy? Caren Krutsinger July 25, 2021 at 7:52 PM I put people on speaker and let them ramble while I draw, cartoon, paint, and write poetry. They have no idea how little I am listening, and it satisfies them.