A Poem for a Girl on the Other End of a Dial Tone

Alessandra Ashford '25

 

I loved you.

911 what’s your emergency?

Though the times you hurt me.

Is he there with you?

I told myself you were a good man, a man of god.

Ma’am, stay calm.

I thought if you knew true love.

Does he have a weapon?

Then you would change.

Is he intoxicated, ma’am?

I thought I could make you better.

And he hit you how many times?

Do you know how long I waited?

Ok ma’am, help is on the way.

Do you know how much I prayed?

Try to stay on the line, ma’am.

I convinced myself you loved me.

Ma’am? Ma’am? Are you still there?

And I told myself to stay.