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Recorded Reading (1:34): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/um50l2kgtpjcq95axnvua/uncomfortable-with-silence.wav?rlkey=rum5goagzz36dh7lcce16n1w8&dl=0

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uncomfortable with silence

hello, my name is…
my name tag says so

and yours is…
yes, your name tag says so

i have a function
that’s on the tag too

so do you
i do see it on your tag

um…
we’re supposed to talk now

yes.
well.

we do know what we’re
not
supposed to talk about,
right?

sunsets
birdsong
love

disappearing wildlife
world hunger
anything about which we feel
deep personal conviction, or

heaven forbid
any genuine enthusiasm

nothing which will make us
laugh out loud

we both understand that
what a relief
won’t have to get real

in this
unreal
environment

O.
M.
G.

what
WILL
we talk about?

because there is
yes definitely hovering like a
maleficent cloud to be dispersed by
any
means necessary, a

moment…
of…
SILENCE between us!

oh,
noooooooooooo!!!!!!

quick,
what have we got left
for subject matter?

no matter how vapid
no matter how destructive
of our gossip’s
victim

heavens to Betsy
we’d better
GO with it!…

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This poet is physically disabled. Public housing being insufficient to her medical and creative needs, she is presently living, in order to continue working, in her minivan, publishing all of her works using one thumb on the touch screen of her smartphone, surviving at an income of a fraction of her nation’s poverty level. She would treasure any donation you might care to offer ~ http://www.UgiftABLE.com ● #72D-31S.

Please be aware that it takes several days for the poet to be notified of contributions. International patrons please contact the poet via email or post a comment for the necessary numbers.

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