Far Away

a boy far away

calls his Mama

presses numbers

it rings

no big deal

then he hears

      her voice

and he is 5 

or maybe 10

certainly not 30

a child’s heartache

in a man’s body

she is wise and kind

so they talk of:

movies

the latest book read

fall colors

upcoming plans

just anything

and everything, 

about nothing

yet he feels

seen and heard and loved

it is the only thing she can do

for a boy, 

so far from home