He puts a glob of turtleglass
before she goes away.
Later,
when she calls him after midnight
to tell him she’s arrived, tell him
that she misses him already,
and he answers the phone,
calls her his little turtle dove
and she doesn’t react,
he knows
she hasn’t yet unpacked, hasn’t
found his little round travel gift.
He
hopes
she’ll find it nestled in the jeans shiny in the shiny morning; hopes
she’ll put it in her pocket, keep
their little green secret crystal
close to her heart all day long;
hopes it brings her safely home
and soon.