My mother and my aunt
spoke on the phone
every day
for an hour or more
hmmm’ing and uh-huh’ing
as each in her turn
talked

about her day
the kids, the parents
family drama
mutual friends
town gossip, local politics
and things I couldn’t discern
as I eavesdropped from the next room

Did my mother know I was listening?
Uneasy when I heard my name
disappointed when I didn’t
but always soothed by her voice
and her deep inhales and exhales
cigarette smoke rising
unfiltered

Emily-Sue Sloane (emilysuesloane.com) is an award-winning poet who writes to capture moments of wonder, worry and human connection. She is the author of a full-length poetry collection, We Are Beach Glass (2022), and her poems have appeared in a variety of literary reviews and anthologies. She lives in Huntington Station, NY.