DISCUSSING THE ISSUES

I blew my nose while you
kept on talking about the
pressing issues and the
challenges of today. I
could hardly hear you,
but you kept on talking
about what's wrong with
the system and the decline
and all that.  Yet I was
listening only to the sound
of your voice--repetitive
and reassuring--it flowed
from your mouth and into
my ears. Yes, yes, I said,
I'm in complete agreement,
as you paused, glad to
have proved your point
once again.  I looked
into your eyes but couldn't
find much there--books,
articles, editorials, reviews--
my head kept spinning,
trying to make sense
each time you paused.
We poets are all the same.
We never listen, staring
somewhere into our inner
loneliness.  Yes, give me
an issue to lay my head on.
Last night I felt I heard
you frankly say that you
don't know much about
life.  But then you changed
the subject.  Back to the
issues.  Back to the same
old noise.  Last night I
felt I really heard your
voice break down into tears.
But you're back now--
the podium is yours--
promoting the same old
issues that make me fall
asleep.  Yes, I'm all for it,
the positive change and
all the issues make me
positively bored.

                                         June 11, 1995
                                      --Alexander Shaumyan