UNTITLED II

Have you ever had a thought,

And had it ripped from you

When someone else speaks up

With your idea, your dream,

Your contribution in a conversation?

“So close,” some say,

“how he knows what she

Will say before she does.”

It comes with the years.

It comes with the fears--

Anticipating responses to prevent

Progress in a conversation.

I know, because I’ve listened.

She knows, because she paid attention.

We zig/I zag

And words go unsaid.

Nobody notices.

But we know. We--

Know.

Years of stories,

Histories,

Exchanged,

Repeated

Time after time.

The days’ routines

Repeated,

Repeated

Day after month

After year, after decade

Until we know--

We know all there is to know--

We think--and so, this shorthand

Of stepping on words,

Trampling sentences

To interject,

Participate in the storytelling.

“And she said--”

“No, I think she said--”

“And She did--”

“Can you believe what he did?

It blew me away.”

But I interject,

And she shakes her head.