Silence on the other line.

The comedian.
Thanks to you,
I never heard the answering machine
Because your lovely high-pitched "good afternoon."
Always came from the recieving line.

When I was on the phone
With your great-grandaughter you would spy
But with a simple question of "Gram?"
Your silence would end
And you would reveal yourself with a
"I need to use the phone."

But sometimes we couldn't speak
Because we were laughing so hard on the line
When you would pick up the phone
And begin to dial Mary's number.

Whenver the phone is now busy
I can't help but think out of habit
"Gram must be using the phone.
I should call back in an hour."

And then I remind myself
With a shock of reality
That it will never be you on the other line
Just dead silence where you once were.