Brian Taylor (England)

You worry? You?
Nobody cares.
They may make sounds,
give you talk,
sympathy,
a few smiles
within bounds.
None care
beyond the question-answer-sympathy.
Take them while they're there;
there is no empathy.

Of course, others expect it too
- like you;
civilisation sits on that,
alluring but absurd - and much too fat.