The Way You Have Taught Us A Lesson... Poem by RIC BASTASA

those who are supposed
to be close to us have not
shown in any manner how is it
to love and care,

so,

unwanted we too have created
a distance which is that far enough
that even forgiveness cannot
connect,

so,

as hinted we have learned to live
within the confines of our house
how we close our gate how we put
down the blinds how we close the door
and lock each one.

we have all learned it thoroughly from
them.

now we have mastered this game of numbness
we have gained this notoriety for independence
this non-indulgence and non-involvement
and then here they are trying to tell us
that we are

wrong.

it is too late. we have created our own
sense of confinement
and as we do our own thing
water our own plants
clean our own backyard
dust our own feet
as we have worn already our own
tinted sunglasses

do not ever ever knock at our door
or come up our stairs
or enter our gate

we have put the bold marks there:

NO TRESPASSING
WE ARE PRIVATE PERSONS

NO TRESPASSING
THIS IS A PRIVATE LIFE

THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY
IF YOU COME
WE WILL SHOOT YOU.