Failure to Communicate

words could help but not if they

can't fit into the conversation
all the anger in the air
leaves little room
for wisdom or for understanding

crushing consonants
vile and cruel vowels
everything's an accusation

love stands at the ready
but humility hides beneath the pain
and negativity has pushed
all patience out the door

the question marks are liars,
expectation killing any chance
of kindness, generosity

they need a comma, an ellipse,
an em dash, en dash, something
to relieve the tension

but a period is all that they deserve
for being so ill-mannered
all they'll get today.


(c) Ellen Gillette, 2016