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Open Poetry #20
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kaile
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since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146
singapore

0 posted 2002-05-14 01:23 PM


Accidentally, we saw each other
We smiled, gave obligatory waves
and returned to our respective tasks
I tried to count my toe hairs
You resumed your conversation with your friend

We walked home together before
Do you recall the time
I lied to your dad about your english grade?
You looked at me with
an expression I couldn't quite figure out--
was it gratitude or amazement?

There should be some official etiquette
that calls for us to speak to
our long-lost friend for fifteen minutes
when we chance upon each other
We will swap gossip about former friends,
reveal our present lives a little,
maybe even relive those good old days and laugh

I'm sorry I didn't realise
you had chicken pox and were absent for two weeks
I'm sorry I stood aside
as the flame in our friendship gradually extinguished

We are like
grown-up puppies
given up to different homes,
soon after birth

Did we ever function
as a pair of chopsticks?

I never failed to call you
before school reopened
so that I could "transfer" answers
to my undone homework
I need those now



© Copyright 2002 heng kaile - All Rights Reserved
bsquirrel
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Member Rara Avis
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855

1 posted 2002-05-14 03:12 PM


Love the bit about the chopsticks.

She said burn ... together.
-TON

Sven
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since 1999-11-23
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East Lansing, MI USA
2 posted 2002-05-14 04:01 PM


"I tried to count my toe hairs"

I'm wondering where this line came from faterider. . . does one count the hairs on their toes as a regular thing???

but, it lends itself nicely to the spirit of the poem. . . which is a walk into the mind of one that's stopped hearing. . .

---------------------------------------------------------

To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.

kaile
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Member Ascendant
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146
singapore
3 posted 2002-05-15 01:04 PM


thank you, bsquirrel for your comment...

Sven, well, i often wonder if someday i would be bored enough to actually count my toe hairs...so far, i am sufficiently appalled at this thought, so this hasn't happened yet..but i thought it was a cool thing to note down...thanks for your comment..

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