Alienation

The colossal silence

absorbed two years in their entirety

and left an open space, looming

like the black clouds

we used to wish away.

-

The space between us,

between me and everybody,

grows over time to

unbearable lengths.

-

An alienation, the busiest places,

the same reflections, familiar feelings.

-

I was taught to tie a tie

by anonymous virtual hands.

-

I tried my best to love you,

but your interests strolled

slowly away

towards warmer lands.

-

My five-o-clock shadow

only added to his silhouette,

one which grew larger

as his son kept rising.

-

I reached new heights,

but I felt the same emptiness.

-

I achieved all that I wanted to,

my dreams just brought me

extra stress.

-

Your calloused welder’s hands,

the gloves I have to wear to type,

I pretend we’re one and the same,

like I pretend I acted right,

like I pretend I had a plan

like I pretend I followed it, too.

-

I mix the letters

and hand them to your abstractions,

I try to mend things, try to

tape them back together,

-

but the stickiness is gone,

the air is bitter,

freezing

and you enjoy your freedom

just over there,

right in my eye-line,

-

while I design the cage

and hire architects

to build my pain.