Provided

Normally if Phil goes out of town,
He’s gone from Sunday to Friday.
It’s manageable, and I’m used to it.

Fourteen years ago, he was gone eight days
And I thought he looked different when he came
Back, and it took us a week or eight days
To remerge our lives.

I have a little more than two days to go now
In this, a nine day separation.
We’ve had a few brief hellos, and one fifteen minute talk.
I thought I was doing well.

Then I drove up to town and found myself
Feeling teary in the produce section.
This has happened before, surrounded by so many beautiful
Options, and I had just been listening to songs of
Resurrection. Of course I was teary. But I glanced over
And a man and woman
Were just talking and it made me catch my breath
In wonder and longing.

No more than half a minute later,
I looked up to see a dear friend,
A friend I had considered calling to see if she would
Accompany me in my shopping,
But had delayed so long it would have been
Impractical. She had debated: Go? Stay? Go?
And came, and there she was, in my moment of loneliness.

Not alone!