The Conversation
By: Laurie Carson


We sat waiting for

our squeaky shoes

to start

the conversation

so that

we could join them--

find strength

in their impertinence.

But our shoes,

so vocal in a silent classroom,

refused

to murmur--even an hello.

Without their staccato

voices,

we couldn't even giggle--

there being no excuse--

and so we stared at fingernails

pared down to unattractive nubs

and wondered if

the lack of topics

was good enough

a starting point

as any stupid thing

we couldn't think

to say



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