Say No Excuses Poem by RIC BASTASA

suffering shares the same eyes,
same point of view
and as i see it
sufferers take the same road
of voluntarily taking so much
suffering
on their hearts
sort of having learned and loved
what suffering gives them
and when sometimes they met
accidentally in the park or in some
Chinese restaurants
drinking their kind of tea
when their eyes meet
they easily know the names of their
existence
without need of introduction
and despite this seeming familiarity
less the trifle
after having a short look at each other
they nod their heads
their lips back on the cup
and without much effort to avoid it
they continue the sipping
slowly, slowly,
and when the cup is consumed
they take leave
say no excuses
and never really really
gone.