sitting with a friend of a friend
desperate to yank at the seams of conversation
when it is quiet, we pretend to sip
we pull our eyes to the images of commentators on the screen
look out the window
think of something else to say so we can feel comfortable
my resume with people is malnourished
i am people, and i still don't understand them
the friend we share returns to the table
we invite her back
the ashes of discomfort are scattered
it is put to rest
a regulated heartbeat returns