Pick-Up Poem (Not what it sounds like)
Sorry, sorry, the title of this post is a bit misleading. The poem is about picking up the phone, not picking up in a bar. However, bloggers like stats; provocativeness improves stats; and well, I’m sure you are picking up the gist of this.
All that said, here’s the poem:
When you don’t pick up
One reason I hate so much
the times you don’t pick up
is that they throw me into
a certain (but I hope distant)
moment in which you are truly gone
or I am gone, when whichever
of us is left will have
no one to call, though perhaps
we will still call–knowing me, I won’t
be able to stop–but we
will have no one to answer, though certainly
you will try out of steadfast love
to answer, and me because I can never
shut up–but still, it will not
be an answer that says,”I’m coming,
I’m almost there,” or if it does, it will
be that rather tricky coming of
the nearly departed, which, of course,
is not what either of us want exactly,
at least
not at this present moment,
which
is why I really do wish
you’d stay near a phone always
so that I could gather up
your sweet hello
every single time I call and know, yes,
that you are coming, yes,
that you are still here.
(All rights reserved.)
Explore posts in the same categories: Blogging, iPad art, poetryTags: iPad art, Karin Gustafson, Karin Gustafson poetry, Love Poem, manicddaily, missing you poem, pick-up poem, picking up phone poem, poem about potential loss
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ManicDDaily 
September 14, 2011 at 10:23 pm
smiles. i can feel this…the desire that if we can not be with the other that we can at least hear their voice…and yes maybe that they will be on their way…
provacative titles are the way to go…seriously if it catches the eye…it is the first thing people see and most people dont think like that…
September 14, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Ha, yes.
September 15, 2011 at 1:58 am
Hi Manic! When I met my wife we were like that. Of course cell phones were the size of shoe boxes then and not everyone had them, so it was frustrating sometimes not to be able to reach each other, sometimes even just to say that I’m here and I ‘m thinking about you. Things change. Careers happen, busy, unable to call or take a call, a nuisance sometimes to stop and answer. And today we both have phones in our pockets and yet the only time we call each other is when we need the other to stop and pick something up from the store. In fact I was thinking how your poem, lovely as it is, relates more to my pizza delivery guy than to my wife these days. A reflection on me, not your poem.
I think your title is fine…… In fact. charming… as is your picture of the handset and cord…. And I enjoyed your play on words, (“picking up” the gist of this…) Above all of that you are smart, well written and edgy…… That’s why your poems are directed to my email inbox…. But I suppose there must be some draw for newcomers to discover those things about you… Sex sells, they say….. Perhaps a lacy, revealing teddy on your elephant….. LOL!
September 15, 2011 at 6:09 am
Ha! Thanks so much for subscribing and for reading and for your kind words. You are very lucky that the poem reflects more your dealings with the pizza guy! (That’s quite funny. I hope he does answer when you call! Especially when you are hungry!)