Going to sleep

we spoke on the phone
as I lay in bed
missing you
and I asked if you
had fallen asleep with someone
on the phone
I wanted in that moment
to just have the phone
there with you
on the other end
as I drifted into sleep
almost as when you are
lying beside me
your hand in mine

after we talked I listened to Strauss
Beim Schlafengehen
unearthily beautiful and sad
and did fall asleep
and woke in the night
startled
that you weren’t there

I see you in three days
it’s too long
meanwhile I have
Kiri Te Kanawa
she can’t hold a candle
to your longing