The Voice

She hears the ring from half sleep,
and reaches out in the direction of
sound, fumbling, spilling last night's anesthetic wine,
something new she's trying to ease the loneliness.
The image of the red soaking into the carpet,
there for eternity like a blood stain, 
Fires her synopses and she grabs then the 
still ringing phone and a sock to soak the stain.
"Hello" she says weakly and a little breathless
in her attempts with the sock.  
"Hello" he deeply and resonantly returns
and time stops.

His voice is like honey covering 
and shielding her from the tiresome world
Like when his body covered hers in love all
those nights and days before he left.
And a pleasant tingle in her spine
and the sudden inability to breathe
Tells her she still loves him, no matter what she says.
But he has called to talk to her son
and "I've got it" the son says on the other line.
"Okay" she says breathlessly strangling now for air
and places the phone carefully back in its cradle.
The deep honey voice still hums in her mind,
and she basks in the afterglow, a secret pleasure,
And wishes she could feel at least this good forever.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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Agustin Avatar
February 16, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Meanwhile, I greet you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
A   Avatar
March 10, 2016 at 1:42 AM
Emerson Adkins, awesome poem. LINDA
A  Avatar
July 7, 2015 at 1:07 PM
Emerson, this is a wonderful write. Enjoyed dropping by to read. Love SKAT
Anglesey Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 11:10 AM
This is excellent writing. Very moving and complete with visual detail. Probably novel material. Well done
Brown Avatar
June 19, 2012 at 6:05 AM
A belated but warm welcome to PoetrySoup I offer to you Emerson. I wish for you the best in your writing endeavors whatever they may be. May you find inspiration by reading some of the poetry written here by other poets. May the sun shine on you that you might find great joy in your life. Love, Carol
Henderson Avatar
June 16, 2012 at 9:48 AM
A choice but true....peace
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