The Long Response Poem by Raj Dronamraju

You can't keep blaming yourself
For how situations with other people played out
Crossed wires
She said without any suggestive meaning "My tongue hurts and this is not an excuse"

My legs buckled with the sudden weight of a realization that solved everything
Its theoretical power was blunted by being too late
No rush to disembark from confusion crafts
My legs buckled and this time I did not try to fight it

His request for kindness is met with blank stares
Understanding is not the problem here although they will blame it on that later
The apathy of the long distance runner
Is the source of his endurance and indefatigability

This march through a wilderness could last many decades
From within, the progress, from without, is not shown
I will keep calling you on the phone even if you do not answer