Empty Chair

Why does it A N N O Y me so when i take the T I M E to read a poet’s words C H E W them up with delight only to find that they rudely (my opinion) T U R N E D off their comments my brain shuts down with no I N T E R - action a subtraction of friendliness insubstantial P R O P R I E T Y S O U P meaty and filled with carrots, celery and onions S H A R E D with salty broth and bones L A D L E D out into countless bowls S I P P E D and warmed by the heart with light C O N V E R S A T I O N like two people sitting across a table the metaphoric table states, oceans, countries B L E SS E D and bountiful S U CC E S S of twining hands turn politics off, yes or craziness, yes that A L P H A B E T duress we can give a rest but when a poem is a flower its honey its bumblebee W H Y hide from me and others too Don’t make me chew and sup with you when you’ve left the the table with S T E A M I N G S O U P 3/14/2022