the wind telephone

kaze no denwa
the telephone booth in Otsuchi
where people go to talk to family members
lost in the tsunami – now five years gone

listening to the story
in my car parked in the lot
before going into work
water coming to my eyes

she says it is “poignant”
the word can’t convey
how my diaphragm tingles
with sobs upwelling

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The value in telephoning the dead