his voice haunts me tonight
grief is the price
you pay for loving someone
I know that well
I’ve paid mine
on the installment plan
my crazy grandfather
in 1977
Barbara
my beloved in 1988
Susan
the love of my life
In 2013
and today
Betsy is added to the ledger
I’m not sure what the balance is
on these accounts
but maybe one day
I’ll pay them off
until then
I count pennies
search the couch cushions
for stray coins
I stopped answering the phone
long ago
I don’t need any more debt
