Lunch on Wednesday
Face to face
Toe to toe
You judge me
I judge you.
I’m waiting for you
Scanning the parking lot for your car
Not your fault
I’m always early, you are hardly ever late.
Time to think
Time to wonder
Will I say too much?
Always, I always say too much.
Will I say anything that will offend?
I always do.
It’s never intentional
But never-the-less,
My words are a cause for offense.
You will take each statement
Twisting and turning
Until you find the pin prick of transgression.
“I knew it”, “I knew it” you’ll say.
“No, no, that’s not what I meant”
Too late, the words are out there
You find what you seek.
We play out our acrimonious history
Your mind tweaking the dialog
Forcing the words to fit within the frame
The frame you’ve built for me.
And all the time
It is you that judges me.
As we walk out together
We pause on the sidewalk.
We fumble through an awkward embrace.
“Same time next week?” you ask.
“Looking forward to it” I say and I walk away.
you may not think you can write poetry but I would stamd this one up to any I have read.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stan, what would I do without your encouragement?......
ReplyDeleteFace to face
Toe to toe.
I'm encouraging you
encouraging me.
Wow! This has real force and a cutting edge of honesty that is at once aching and loving - Intimate. Thank you!
ReplyDelete(eliminate apostrophe on the line Not your fault)