what happened when the ex called the other day

:Outside the golden circle:

• I was contacted with
  unexpected friendliness
  I replied with usual weird courtesy;
  an important matter & small gossip
  were discussed, and then
  more accursed silence.
  A question, a lack of invitation,
  polite and flavorless understanding
  on both sides†.

[†I won the battle of wills,
I fought for normal discourse,
but in the end I found that
the struggle was overdone--
the damage is irreparable--
there is no point in reconciliation--
and everything is as it was
before we were in love,
except for a dull edge of regret
that still bruises me when I handle it.]