let those who never show up

let those who never show up look in the mirror
and wonder at the tears that are shed in a living room
somewhere by someone that needs them there now.
let those who don't return a desperate call
hear a phone ring in a distant phone booth tucked
in some weeds by a closed gas station in Kansas,
let the phone ring in their dreams until eternity,
with no one there to pick up the receiver.
let those who never show up in times of need
feel the tears of those they have let down, let those
tears run down their faces into their mouths,
filling them with the salt of sorrow.