I wrote this this week and performed it for its first time out today at The Anchor in Woodbridge. It seemed to go down ok. In fact, it went down pretty well. With women especially. I like that.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When The Phone Rings<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hate it when the phone rings<\/p>\n

Just in case it\u2019s you.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to remember<\/p>\n

A bright crisp day<\/p>\n

Not too long ago but<\/p>\n

Somehow far too far away<\/p>\n

To get back there now<\/p>\n

When all we could do was light a fire<\/p>\n

And sit holding hands that afternoon<\/p>\n

Talking almost in whispers,<\/p>\n

Feeding logs into the stove.<\/p>\n

You should have been at work.<\/p>\n

And I had things to do,<\/p>\n

Both forgetting that this spell<\/p>\n

Would break, as all spells have to.<\/p>\n

That afternoon shone with promises<\/p>\n

While the winter sun bleached<\/p>\n

Our hearts clear and new.<\/p>\n

And then the phone rings.<\/p>\n

And maybe it\u2019s you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Have I thought again about life insurance?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You wanted to insure your car for me<\/p>\n

And I wanted to insure my life for you;<\/p>\n

It\u2019s who we are. Or more properly<\/p>\n

That’s who we were.<\/p>\n

Maybe you never knew.<\/p>\n

I so much wanted that for you.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s how we were,<\/p>\n

When if\u00a0I\u2019d died I\u2019d have wanted you<\/p>\n

Quite rich if I couldn\u2019t want you<\/p>\n

Any more.\u00a0 It was all I could think<\/p>\n

To give you. Apart from me.<\/p>\n

So no, actually,\u00a0I mean I have,<\/p>\n

But all things considered<\/p>\n

And I don\u2019t really want to go into this<\/p>\n

Too much on the phone<\/p>\n

With a stranger somehow<\/p>\n

But I feel as if all I have left<\/p>\n

Is being polite right now,<\/p>\n

Being English.<\/p>\n

So I don\u2019t really need<\/p>\n

My life insured. Thanks.<\/p>\n

Or not for you, anyway. Not now.<\/p>\n

Make some more tea<\/p>\n

And now you\u2019re not here<\/p>\n

It seems I don\u2019t really need<\/p>\n

To wash the cup clean.<\/p>\n

There’s a missed call on my phone<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not your number.<\/p>\n

It never is now.<\/p>\n

And no-one there anyway.<\/p>\n

Especially not you.<\/p>\n

It never will be somehow.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be ok, you know? I\u2019ll be ok.<\/p>\n

But just for a while,<\/p>\n

Until I can forget the logs<\/p>\n

And the stove and the bright sun<\/p>\n

And your dog and all<\/p>\n

Of the glory we could see<\/p>\n

That afternoon so full of crystal light<\/p>\n

So cold; you held my hand<\/p>\n

And told me over and again:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be alright\u201d;<\/p>\n

Just until then I hate it<\/p>\n

When the phone rings.<\/p>\n

Just in case it’s you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And yes, of course it’s about a real person. And no, she wasn’t there and hasn’t heard it. A pity.<\/p>\n

Update:<\/h5>\n

It’s not quite as in-your-face as this violinist’s reaction to a phone ringing.<\/a> My stuff was described once as making me ‘the king of passive aggression’ but I think Lukas Kmit must be the emperor. Oh, and she still hasn’t heard it, so far as I know.<\/p>\n

<\/a>