CALL ME BELOVED

Hey, mom, I missed your call
because you’ve been blocked
since the pandemic, because
talking to you is like sparring
with angry bulls, all terror and rage
and mom, I’m fucking tired.
If you want the updates then
everybody is still alive, but
you wouldn’t recognize anyone –
we’ve all grown so much while
you’ve been storytelling, fables
of your victimhood you’ll spin
for anybody you can corner,
because I’m going to keep
missing your calls – every one.
If it helps you to sleep I hesitate
over that [Call back] each time,
like daring myself to reach out –
snatch a hot pan from the oven,
because, mom, it’s true, damn it,
I’ll burn myself for love, add scars
to say hey, mom, I wanted to call back
and I’m sorry I missed your call
and mean it