come, stay and let's talk. it's a good day to be alive
small awkward pause before glancing away.
a feigned cough, and clearing of throat.
a little shift to the side of the seat.
in a library, in a zoom meeting. in a gym,
there’s a paper cut for every encounter.
is it the smell? is it the look? is it the wording?
a thought chews on another thought.
I wondered what makes a good sound,
but then I realized it didn’t matter at all
if you lose your ground.
6.8.2022
I was sitting in a large old library
High ceiling, large space with cubicles,
had windows viewing out into the riverside
I often walked down the stairs
to buy chewing candy from a shop below
It was not too long after I had quit smoking
I spent uncountable hours in the library
perhaps that’s where I fell into the rabbit hole
the desperate race that never seems to end
4.22.2022
Ralph with Coffee 