8.1 My Cohorts
by Eric Chaet
My cohorts aren’t easy to locate
those I try to be myself with
mock me or hide themselves from me
they’re running away from everyone
who can’t or won’t help them
get safe or ahead
those I try to work with
refuse without saying why
or state some item of protocol
I may trim myself to fit thru it or not
they’re eager to communicate
that it’s a matter of perfect indifference
everyone knows better than I
how things are done
& no one wants to know what I’m doing
what I’m doing is not what is done
it’s a matter of perfect indifference
that I am trying to change what is done
the odds being so against changing it for the better
& there being so many deluded ones
causing no end of trouble
changing it for the worse
that, long ago, everyone but my cohorts
whoever they are
gave up on trying to change what is done for the better
mostly crazy people or at least unrealistic people persist
many of them are members of mutually reassuring teams
or loners who never stop talking if you let them start
who are afraid of silently facing what is & is going on
sometimes even now I erupt in talk
long compressed like a thick strong spring
superheated from being buried
under the weight of the dead
paralyzed & pretending to be at ease
or continuing along trajectories
by inertia, opinion, & habit
red molten liquified exploding
talk without beneficial consequences
mostly, tho, nowadays I dodge the erupters myself
or very brave people
who know very well how people do
yet persist
who may or may not have useful skills
& may or may not be wise
& may or may not be able to navigate
among those who have given up on changing things for the better
as well as deluded ones causing trouble changing it for the worse
not to speak of those who are exploding furious at what’s happening
& may or may not believe that I am good & useful to them
& can’t afford to make provisions for me otherwise
as I can’t afford to make provisions for them otherwise.
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Picture:
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville
Robotics Formations Project
