I’ve finally given up the internal debate
about whether to turn the phone off
during the night, no longer worrying
that I would miss a critical call.
I have lived more than long enough
to know that the only calls that come
in the heart of the night are those
announcing a disaster, a crisis or
most often, recently, another death.
I know now that, living so far from
family, there is nothing I can do
that will not wait until morning, and I
am useless without sufficient sleep.
So do call if you must, and leave
a message which I promise I will get
early the next morning and I will
apologize profusely for not getting
back to you sooner, not that it matters
for the crisis will have been resolved,
it will be ongoing, or, god forbid,
the departed will have remained so.