THE TELEPHONE

Casually he pressed the phone buttons
To pick up remote messages from his answering machine,
Informing him of problems on job sites all over the USA.
The phone line has become his umbilical cord
To their homestead in Wyoming,
A place he presently commands,
In this mental room undistinguished from any other,
Is his only attachment to the rest of the world.
He relates to her best when talking on the phone.
But today he keeps her close because
SHE IS HOME FOR HIM