a sort of separation

I find myself being less and less engaged in conversations.

 

People will tell me all about their trips to Italy,

their friends who call them at two

in the morning to tell them their troubles,

how they’ve got a couple days’ vacation coming to them, and

they’re going to spend it rearranging their closets.

They’ll tell me about their sons and daughters,

how they’re just like all the others;

on their tenth job,

hooked on ecstasy,

going into the army,

flunking out of community college,

working for some think tank in Silicon Valley,

worshiping false idols.

And then I’ll yawn or suddenly remember to change the

air filter in my car or think about how easy

it would be to just drop out of society and live

within the Welfare system.

Then I’ll hear them say something like,

“Gosh, what can I wear that’s flattering?”

or “...And all the congregation lifted up their

voice and cried, and the people wept that night,”

and my eyes will glaze over, and I’ll start to doze off.

And then I’ll hear, “Are you listening to me?”

“Of course, of course,” I’ll say,

hoping they won’t ask me to repeat what they’ve just said.

I’m amazed these people still consider me a friend.

If they knew just how little I really listen to them.

They’d probably re-evaluate our friendship.

And I’d be alone.

Again…

Reviews

[berenongur]

I will be honest, I read a lot of poems here, I read a lot of poems before this and this was one of them I felt the most sincere and close to.

Actually, it is a boredom that everyone can experience at certain times and a crime of classical monotonous dreams and lives.
I think to be a good writer, you need to understand yourself well, not people well. I don't understand stories much but I am dying to look at your other poems. I wish you a good day

[Philip Gaber]

Thank you so much, berenongur, your review means a lot to me. I agree with you about knowing oneself. It is more important to know oneself rather than the other.

[Philip Gaber]

Ok let's get back in sync n0w, friend

[Glenda]

I don't know what happened. I must got so excited reading, I somehow put a block between us. Then today, halfway between Epic Sloth, I started missing reading your stuff and I saw I've done it all over.

Something happens to my brain under pressure. I don't blame you a bit if you stop being my friend.
I read this and got inspired to write you.