You Let It Sit There

Three days since Tuesday. I'm still losing

the argument.

She said it in the flat part of the session—

after the first things but before the close,

when I'd relaxed enough to say something real.

You're more comfortable being needed

than being known.

She didn't soften it. Didn't ask

what I thought. Just let it sit

on the low table between us

and looked at me with nothing

in her face at all.

I said: I hear what you're saying.

Which is what I say

when I'm not ready to say anything.

Three days.

I've been useful to four people since then—

carefully, specifically useful—

and I know exactly what that is

and I did it anyway.