mariy

in an effort to get people to look into each other's eyes more,
the government has decided to allot each person exactly
one hundred and sixty-seven words, per day.

when the phone rings, i put it to my ear without saying hello.
in the restaurant i point at chicken noodle soup.
i am adjusting well to the new way.

late at night, i call my long- distance lover
and proudly say: i only used fifty-nine today. i saved the rest for you.
when she doesn't respond, i know she's used up all her words,
so i slowly whisper i love you, thirty-two and a third times.
after that, we just sit on the line and listen to each other breathe.