You’re too smart to be religious, people have said.
I know you wanted to, other people have said.
Yet other people, with Grade-x subtlety,
Wheedle, ‘Apparently so-and-so and you…’
Mind-reading is cultural competence hereabouts,
And I’m often scolded by those who see it
As also Love’s labour.
Sometimes I wish I were more adept at picking up
The shot blanks, the loneliness.
At other times, I am offended by the claim.
Beneath my ego’s visor, my heart jittery and swollen,
I offer my best silences, reverence for your unknown,
Restraint of the grasping, fumbling guesses:
So that you can speak and be learnt from.
‘No, thank you’ is fine. ‘What a fool’ is unacceptable.
No comments:
Post a Comment