Dear Friend,

and I could not speak my feelings except
to the beings I had invented far within.
                                        —Galway Kinnell

I'm full of good news
with no one to call
all the lines are busy
all my bridges burn

I could write letters
to my loved elders
address them six feet under
ashes to ashes

or walk the streets
shouting I'm a happy man
who would answer

there's a busy signal
and fire of the bridges
no zip code to the grave

what made me think
happiness had my address.

Copyright © 2006 Robert Funge All rights reserved
from Chelsea
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission