SMALL TALK

Somebody's talking,
I thought I heard my name.
What are they saying?
Is it to defame
or perhaps to blame?

So I strain my ear
to test my fear.
But I can't quite hear.

I shouldn't try to live
in other people's words,
In other people's lives.
This is not mine.
They do fine in theirs,
That is well and good.

I will learn to
shed these narrow walls,
and leave other halls to find
I will fill it just fine.
It just takes time to kick open  
the latches.

JAL 11-6-96, revised 2-22-98

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