the mannered exchanges
the polite inquiries
to health and hearth
the words and smiles
we dance between
like rain upon the street
the social intercourse
of hand to hand
chat and greet
bastions sincerity
into muffled silence
to prevent
its sharpened teeth
from slashing fine lines
along the throats
of each person
that we meet
(September 5, 2013)
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