USA

kcorrell_ican@yahoo.com

It's For You

Phone rang at 7 a.m.
on a humid Sunday
I was twisted around
the warm body beside me
who didn’t stir
from the early intrusion
Second ring,
I’m still unwrapping
and wondering
"Who died?"
Reaching for the phone
his breath is heavy
on the fine hairs
of my arm
"Hello?"
"The world ends tomorrow"
Silence
Receiver back on cradle
Me, back in a pretzel
I’m awake now
Eyes wide, staring at a crack
running the length
of the worn white ceiling
It didn’t feel like a crank call
The voice was too familiar
though I had never heard it
before
Shit damn
I’m not ready for the word
to end
Not now
Things are finally starting to go
right
Instead of their predictable left
Look at clock again: 7:06
Sixteen hours, 54 minutes
Guess I can take
cleaning the toilet
off my to-do list
Who cares if the pot is blue
when no one will ever see it
again?
I never finished my novel
never got to Rome
never had sex on a beach
under moonlight and winds
I never married him
though I should have
Is there time to find
a justice of the peace?
He turns, wraps his arm
around my waist
pulling me in to him
It’s comfortable here
not a bad place to be
if the world has to end
I press back
find a comfortable place
on the pillow
Just a little more sleep
I’ll figure everything out
tomorrow
 

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