four decades of professional life
    considered with benevolence
(how else …?)
have altogether
not turned out so badly
even though no party politics
helped me climb the ladder
of not so easy scholarly achievement

often in the beginning I discovered
that my politeness was mistaken
for simplicity

and so I had to learn a bit about
   how I could stand my ground
to kick the shins of those who thought
    they could step on my toes with cool impunity

until they noticed that they were mistaken

over the years I found my ways to garner
    not everybody’s love
    but their respect and recognition
    
which is what we all mostly need

     eventually

We have the look of another place.
The rain forest dries to deepest desert
where meat is on special.

Politeness grips my hand
in a firm shake.

She is tired of being polite
Couldn't turn into a monster either

A burning Ire

I saw chemistry
Between your smiles
And my shy looks.
I mean, I really did
See something
In the way
You handed me that cigarette,
In the way
You asked me to spend the night,
In the way
You made me feel less empty.

I don't know.
Maybe I simply read too much
Into your politeness.
Maybe you're just another guy
Who already belongs
To someone else.


F.Z.**N

In a generation of decadence
it's sad
that we cannot simply enjoy
simple civility.

Perhaps inflation
has taken a toll on our cost of living
increasing the price
we need to pay
to earn civil manners.