Hello—
start there.
Look me over
kindly—does it seem
that I could bear
How are you?
Or is my posture more suited
to a comment about weather,
or dogs? Do you think you know me
well enough to ask How are you doing?
I will in turn look you over
kindly, if I can muster it,
and gauge your capacity
for listening—will you listen
if I tell you? I will calibrate
my answer. Maybe
just keep it to I come and go—
my current standard—
after using fine elicited reactions
of you’re so strong, or worse—
Start with Hello—
once used to summon the ferryman—
take me across with your sweet hello.
Let us start over, oars at the ready, boat small
yet seaworthy.
