he wants to talk with her
not so much around her
his tongue stumbles
as he tries to explain
she looks out the window
at the mockingbird singing
she wonders why he explains so
like the mockingbird nearby
he wants to say what he wants
but can’t because of fear
she wants him to speak
but doesn’t listen when he does
they watch each other along their edges
the mockingbird sings in the tree
(July 2012)