“The Quiet World”

In an effort to get people
to look into each other’s eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly
one hundred and sixty-seven words,
per day.

When the phone rings, I put it
to my ear without saying hello.
In the restaurant I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to this new way.

Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.

When she doesn’t respond,
I know she’s used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe. -Jeffrey McDaniel

(My new favorite poem.)