Beloved Voices

have an answering machine for voice messages
There are twenty eight on it right now which I’ve saved
I periodically go through to erase and condense
But living so far from all of them, I keep most again


There is eldest daughter calling when she and the
and the middle one were stopped, they had taken pictures of a
Government facility without realizing it was a ‘no no’
“Mother”, she said in a loud whisper,
“we’ve been stopped by the Police I ‘ll call you back ”


Later my middle daughter called, teasing, and said they
took Laurel but “I, Gloria am here, and we talked the
policemen into letting us take their photos, allowing us to
delete the ‘forbidden ones”...

I simply can’t erase those messages


Then there are some from my youngest daughter,
“It’s your daughter! with a melodious upswing in her words,
Calling to say hello and how are you doing?”
I must save those, to hear her voice when I can’t keep in touch


Don’t you see, that isn’t too much


Several are from my next to youngest son
“Hello Mom, this is your son John, I am on my way to
work and just called to talk”... and the one from his ten
year old daughter, “Hi Grandma Sharon, It's me, Emma! ”


You know I must keep that one for posterity


My brother called from another State, “This is your brother calling”
and I skip to the next as I cannot erase that voice...
My mother calling from a thousand miles away,
I know one day she won’t be there to call,
a voice I have known all my life


Those simply must stay


Though I have pictures and many wonderful, warm memories
I shall save these messages, until the time I no longer need them,
continue to go through, listen and smile as I remember the occasion
each Beloved voice was taped on my answering machine


And yes, I shall leave room for those reminders of Dr’s
appointments and neighbors calling to tell me something,
reminding me of a get together or asking if I want to go to town,
everyday occurrences which come our way...


And I smile when
listening once again to those Beloved voices which are far away...
they warm the room when I hear them, a part of my heart


Jsharon