Artichokes

Three weeks before she left, she bought me artichokes.

Plans for one of our favorites -- a special dinner.

I don't think that either of us knew

that runaway was more than a verb or a noun.

Daily, I wait by a phone,

Sometimes she even calls and promises to come home.

I always believe her.

I know that what she really wants is to keep me believing

so that she will not be arrested as a runaway.

So, I wait by a phone and believe in lies.

I think that next payday I will buy mayonnaise

The artichokes waste in the refrigerator

I wait by a phone for a call that will never come.