lost in a crowd
you look for ways to amuse yourself
you look for ways to extend yourself
none of the machines around you have accessible ports
none know your language
what you find you keep to yourself
what you love you love alone
you put on a camouflage smile
and repeat the small talk you learned in a book
never explain the half-suppressed grin or
the private laugh you choke into silence
never share the poetry you surreptitiously type on your work-issued laptop
each evening at home
you close a dozen incomplete conversations
ensuring yourself the final witty word
you end every day
congratulating yourself
on surviving
so completely
disconnected
unconquered
and alone
