Related To The Environment Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

I use to express my appreciation.
And complimented those,
Whose talents I admired.
I've stopped doing that.
I found myself defending that activity.
YES!
I was insulted,
Because I congratulated someone.
They indicated that I was patronizing.
So the few I do know that aren't offended,
I still extend my comments.

This foolishness experienced is without equal.
It has to be witnessed and evaluated,
To recognize the depths of insecurities...
And how they are related to the atmosphere.

And even then when that has been discovered...
A shallowness becomes identified,
Without doubt or question as part of the environment.
In other words...
It is as inescapable as gossip is to small minds,
In smaller towns.