stories hack out spaces about the room
complaints about traffic work and spouses
some show she saw or daily news horror
forms a skin across the conversations
holds momentarily the life we live
in recognizable if repellant
shapes through which we can all negotiate
with each other for at least one more day
an impromptu performance of stock roles
which flower and play out within moments
the gadfly Falstaff the aging jejune
the parent and child the cold jaded eye
we all mouth our lines on cue and no one
notices we have forgotten the words
(June 2012)
