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I am no stranger to these people

I am no stranger to these people
But we walk as ghosts
Down the long dryness of our lives
Where the sunshine of children
Throws up our shadows
And the calling of birds
Makes an empty mockery of our speech –
‘How is he? And you? You don’t say!’
Echoes with the chill wind round the still houses.

I am no stranger to these people,
But we have nothing to say
And the smiles freeze on our faces
In brief salutation
As our minds stay numb
And we walk on by.

Jan. 2002

Suburbia, and our isolation thrown into sharp relief by the joy and playfulness of children with their friends, and by the calling birds mocking our empty speech.

5 Comments     0 Pings

By Anonymous Mon Apr 21st 2014 at 7:15 am  

Great poem

By brijesh mishra Tue May 7th 2013 at 6:00 am  

it is realy true with many people.

By jemma Mon Sep 28th 2009 at 2:59 pm  

i loved that we done that at a festaval maralin vilage primary school did it that is where i go to

By Sharron Sun Aug 2nd 2009 at 11:28 pm  

Man, this poem does something to me. My skin is crawling. So detailed. wow! Chills.

By Amanda Buchthal Sat Jul 11th 2009 at 11:45 pm  

I bought a tshirt with excerpts from this poem on it, although the poet’s name was not included. I googled the text and found it here. Haunting and heartbreaking poem.

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