welcomed pause

welcomed pause-

jilting, jittery, brief respite-

it's welcomed, you think, but not

calming, or happy, or good: no

just relief, and faked innocence of it;

relieved to be put off, postponed from

thought. you crave to be let off the hook

you don't want to bother

with the weight, the burden of whatever

it is the universe will undeniably, inevitably

lay to rest upon your frail shoulders, so

tired of their obligations, so

typically charitable and giving, so

deserving of a break, for once, this time, for

god's sake.

you'd rather sit

in this welcomed silence, waiting

me out like a storm, hoping i'll break

down and forget to regard you

in such esteem that you feel you must

maintain it by pretending

to care. instead,

you sigh, glancing away with a noncommittal

shrug, raising your hands to hold up platitudes

and to quietly, quietly,

quietly fade into

anonymity.