The Farewell

We don’t always listen to the goodbye when it’s being said.

It echoes when we’re ready to hear it.

Nice to Meet You

I don’t do small talk,

the language of first impressions,

Our eyes unable to agree on a meeting place.

I reject staccato answers spaced in polite pauses.

Your story isn’t one I’m willing to dilute by chopping it into palatable pieces with digestible phrases.

Be brave enough to bear your truth to a total and undeserving stranger.

Stand in the wake of their reaction,

Say it without the practiced grin you don’t dare to deem a smile.

Don’t waste my time with small talk.

Tell me your art–

how you say both, “I love you” and “fuck you” to the universe–

that’s the only way I can get to know you.