Phone call

by Sally Evans

Apology for a land line
the new phone burbles
we don’t answer it
we don’t love it any more

but I pick it up.
It's an old friend
who phoned me by accident
confused by the numbers.

Hello! Nice to hear from you!
How is the far north?
The empty beaches?
Daily walk without family?

Your book is still selling?
They sent you some money?
Yes, we’re fine.
Quiet but fine.

We don’t use the phone much.
We’ve been out in the old car
that doesn’t do ULEZ
then back on the B roads.

What isn’t new-fangled
is now old-fashioned.
I’ll just write to myself
until the pen runs out.