Next Time by Ernie Culver

–next time–

dad calls

8:24 am

his voice
heavy
like a gray wind

says
mom’s doing good

chemo’s going well

left breast
removed

been at st. josephs all
weekend

hardly any shut eye

asks if I want to grab a
cup of coffee
with him

maybe a reuben

get some guy time in
shoot the shit

would love to
but I have an interview
in a few

friend got me one over
at intel

thought I would give it a shot
he says

next time though
for sure
I say

yup

next time

both of us
too chickenshit
to do
what naturally comes next:

say goodbye
&
hang up