Poems

The seats in front of us are taken by
A white haired woman and
Her little old man
Choosing to spend their afternoon
In the dark movie theater
The same as us.

The visitor observes etiquette,
asks no personal questions
of the resident brother-in-law,
the odd addendum to the household.
She is polite, but confines her conversation
to mundanities
"Care for some more salad?"
and newsy exchanges with the hosts,
her father and his wife.

Yet unwittingly
she has made a comment,
revealed the unspoken secret
of her pre-arrival coaching.
Really, what could she say anyway?
"So, how's it going leeching off family?"
Or, "Why is it again you don't get a job?"
So instead, no getting-to-know-you questions
for a man she's never met before.
Does she imagine
   this acquaintance-dodging has gone unnoticed?
Does she believe
   you can't fall into a hole that no one acknowledges?
Is she uncomfortable asking no questions at all?

She must be.
But breeding or tact quells curiosity.
She has a relaxed personality,
doesn't betray discomfort
(or enjoys the comfort of her own judgment)
and there's enough talk to go around.
I'm sympathetic.
It's an awkward position to be in.
Perhaps as awkward as
being asked no questions.

Inauguration day
Black family in the White House
Our democracy

Night time's moony clouds
Silver and black windblown shapes
Somewhere snowy owls

In late harvest time
The melancholy murmur
Winter soon to come