call him up,
read a passage.
when he tells you he wishes
you were dead, laugh, say
me too and try not to think about
it. write the ways they raped you
with honor like
it’s a badge to be a
daughter; forlorn
on cream-colored carpet
in the barracks
after high school
being fucked on tequila
by someone else’s
husband.

call him up and
share a little something.
when he tells you to get lost,
go buy five plane tickets
somewhere exotic and
send him a postcard that says

i wish you were here.