Banter Poem by Rojina Aktar

Do we ever really mean what we say,
When we greet the postman, the grocer or the neighbour as we rub shoulders on each passing day?

'And how are you Joan, heard your husband was demoted, must be awful! ' are the so-called inquiring utterances that escape from our lips, yet in reality your interest is as useful as what's languishing in her rubbish tips.

'All right Joe, hard at it, I see, though its only 7am! ',
An excuse to raise your voice and be heard, else otherwise the surrounding neighbours, you couldn't care less about them

Then it's the daily perusal of Facebook or twitter,
Where its first in to get in on the natter, but it's just bored inane chitchat, as the latest Kardashian selfie rarely matters

The chirpy nurse doing the wards rounds, will greet you as cheerily as the chorus of the first bird sounds,
But it's simply a way of getting through the day, as her thoughts are far from your well-being, and towards homeward bounds.

Gossip seems to be the only way, to gain attention even before the elusive 'hello there, how's your day? '

Our voices dissappear when it comes to politics, social unrest or matters of the heart, we may join the lively debate on social media, but even then it's all irrelevant and relative, just to cure boredom,
Nowhere near the start

But then that's the whole point, to make waves or the right noises for entertainment or attention,
As we converse with no purpose, as we very rarely mean what we say