powered off

taking for granted that every time I call
dad or mom will pick it up
I say "it's me. What ya up to?"
Then they say something about their day
Or when it is busy with a particular dish
that they are cooking
and not surprisinglythe wok is burning red hot
with peanut oil in it
I will be disgruntled and laugh and say
"I'll call back."
Or the next time,
mom is just about to visit the toilet (bad timing)
or she is in the middle of a cupping therapy
Or the next time,
they are walking together in the street
their voices drowned by the voom voom of endless traffic
I will tell them that "I'll call back."

I know that one day the phones will be powered off
No one is there to keep them recharged
No one is cooking in the kitchen or using the toilet
or living the nitty gritty of a day
I will try not to think
about the fact that I have left them behind