Sonnet 48 – This Time The Russian

“Ya tseluyu tebya I ya lyublyu
tebya, vsegda…” and the phone line went dead.
That was my wake-up call. I never knew
her love again. The night before she’d called

and asked me over – “please”. Week after week
we’d grown in friendship – we talked every
day for hours so that I could learn to speak
her tongue. Any topic was fair game. She

would start with books or music or romance
and I’d have to follow – it was a great
way to learn. At her home that night her hands
and mouth taught other truths, nearly too late.

She called from the airport. Her last words were:
“I kiss you and I love you, forever.”