The truth about other people
Con/Jur/d, 3/2/2023

February, a month of sighs
not enough sleep, hard to leave
the warmth, the cloying in-between

-- Get out, get out! 

The sun glints on headstone feldspar
standing just outside the gate
not willing to go in today

-- Too cold

The house has been left
hardly the glories of leaving home
the monks praise, people taking up


-- Too much space

And despite the scarf and heavy
jacket, he’s easy to recognize
even without his old pitbull

-- You knew Gus, didn’t you?

Sure, he redid our bathrooms
made plenty of mistakes, a stalwart
companion for several weeks

-- Was wondering how he was doing

Apparently, he, along with others
died last year and they’d known each other 
for 30-od, been through thick and thin

-- She’s been dead three years now

And without asking, know he’s 
referring to his canine companion
unbidden, “He walks a little slower” 

-- Every day I’ve been seeing eagles

We flash peace signs and move
towards our respective homes
tethered to fleeting glimpses of

-- other people's lives