Stepping Aside Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Perhaps a stepping aside,
From your 'hand-me-down' accusations.
Picked up and borrowed to pass along.
With a stopping that to do.
To actually speak to those you don't know.
Or have yet to have met.
Although you can qualify them to receive,
False judgements made.
Without first declaring yourself a fool,
To leave that to assume,
By others.
Who only have that you have let,
Them left to believe.
Perhaps,
If you introduce yourself first...
This will leave them free,
Of assuming that.
Without them needing to gossip about it.

"Excuse me.
But...
You are not who I was told to expect."

-And...
Who were you expecting? -

"Someone else."

-Well...
Good luck.
Hope you find whoever you are looking for.-

"No.
What I meant to say was,
Hello."

-Oh?
Goodbye.
Nice try.
Maybe what and who you are looking for,
Is someone in desperate need for conversation.
That ain't me.-

"Yep!
I was told you were cold like that."

-What?
You don't know me.-

"And...
What makes you think,
I would want to?
I'm not a fool."

-Well.
That's one thing,
You should never admit to suggest it.
Or leave that left,
As an impression to make.
I know I'm relieved,
You freed me from guessing.-

"Yep.
I was told you were sarcastic too! "

-Good.
Now you know everything about me,
To leave me alone.
And hopefully the distance is mutual.-