Conversations
None of us
None of us
have any business
have any business
understanding each others'
understanding each others'
references, in truth
references, in truth
blank stares are all we give
blank stares are all we give
I used to go
I used to go
for a coffee now
for a coffee now
and then, irregularly
and then, irregularly
the nights weren't
the nights weren't
altogether so long.
altogether so long.
People don't talk
People don't talk
I listen
I listen
Someone said near me,
Someone said near me,
"what am I saying...hmm..."
"what am I saying...hmm..."
rhetorically, of course, but why
rhetorically, of course, but why
think the tips of our tongues
think the tips of our tongues
should always have
should always have
answers on them
answers on them
One milks her coffee
One milks her coffee
spread out the moments
spread out the moments
our conversations consisted of
our conversations consisted of
spreading out
spreading out
each drink, meal,
each drink, meal,
day, year, you name it
day, year, you name it
She's there again someday
She's there again someday
in the chair that's usually
in the chair that's usually
mine, she has come
mine, she has come
and is sitting in it
and is sitting in it
casually "Hello", You "Oh my"
casually "Hello", You "Oh my"
and "what a surprise" for both
and "what a surprise" for both
but I leave for
but I leave for
a sofa, coffee so close
a sofa, coffee so close
to spilling
to spilling
Neither one looks
Neither one looks
directly at
directly at
the other, conversations
the other, conversations
live within us
live within us
not between. I never saw
not between. I never saw
when she left
when she left
nor, I suppose, she me.
nor, I suppose, she me.