so many wish to be kind
and understanding
so many wish to act educated
and knowing
so many use the word
love
as if they meant it

and too many believe it
when they hear
it

“It’s about a drunk. He just sits on a barstool night and day.”

“Do you think the people would care about such a man?”

“Listen, Jon, if I worried about what the people cared about I’d never write anything.”