It’s a part of me, seldom further than a long reach.
I call or text many times through the day,
conversing with those part of my life and with strangers.
It comes naturally, and those times it didn’t make the trip
the burden of not having it hurts a great deal more than the norm.

But I go to a meeting and they read the tools:
Many members call, text, or email their sponsors
and other OA members daily. Telephone
or electronic contact also provides
an immediate outlet for those hard-to-handle
highs and lows we may experience.
I leave the meeting determined this week
to make outreach calls. But when I start to,
the familiar phone becomes loathsome,
intimidating, an alien experience. How did it get
that heavy? I know it’s fine to call program people,
that they’re glad I placed the call. But I rebel
until I surrender enough, it’s great on my end, too!