The Breather
–Billy CollinsJust as in the horror movieswhen someone discovers that the phone callsare coming from inside the houseso too, I realizedthat our tender overlappinghas been taking place only inside me.All that sweetness, the love and desire—it’s just been me dialing myselfthen following the ringing to another roomto find no one on the line,well, sometimes a little breathingbut more often than not, nothing.To think that all this time—which would include the boat rides,the airport embraces, and all the drinks—it’s been only me and the two telephones,the one on the wall in the kitchenand the extension in the darkened guest room upstairs.