[Marlo]
This session’s participants
for advancements’ formation
broke out quick without
any slight hesitation
that might suggest strong
anticipation for friends
to suspend laser-focused
community talk
to walk down memory lane
and explain new news
used to nourish their lasting
attachment and commitment
to friendship’s union
in communion with straight speech
to reach harmony.
[Hastings]
Kevin, this is my partner, Shannon,
an extraordinary carpenter to further
our independence for self maintenance.
[Shannon]
Quite the pleasure for me
to meet Bill’s new measure
for integrity,
[Kevin]
If that’s true, Bill needs a few
significant adjustments
to the increments
of his guiding gyroscope
with me in tandem.
[Hastings]
Nonsense! You abhor blind obedience.
As a consequence you question authority,
always, constantly; and, consequently,
you need me to parry the outrage
as you verbally fence with power
that seeks to cage your displays of rage.
[Bree]
Hi Kevin.
How are you?
Are you well?
[Kevin]
It’s hard for any to say.
Better, but not really well.
[Hastings]
He’ll be fine in time.
It’s a corrosive event
to end a life with intent.
Time must be spent to understand
accountability’s rude decree
concerning the need for self defense.
Martyrdom is not heroic,
but revenge is toxic.
[Shannon]
Bill, let’s go save a table.
We’ll be able to speak more
over food before the group reconvenes.
It seems you could use a few moments
to share comments in private.
We’ll keep two seats for you.
So, we’ll see you in a few.
[Bree]
That will be fine.
I am hungry, but
I would like some time
with Kevin alone.
Kevin let’s just sit here for a bit
while others hit the buffet.
[Marlo]
William and Shannon
quickly set service for four
just inside the door
of Brenda’s (large) Banquet Room
making ready to consume
the robust layout
of soup, salad, and entrees
displayed before drinks
and then there were the deserts.
With flirtatious aromas
and eye-catching sights,
mouths watered; smiles widened, and
all faces brightened.
[Shannon]
Is Kevin stable?
[Hastings]
He’s wobbly, unsure, and scared.
[Shannon]
She’s no better.
[Bree]
It was hard to sleep.
I’d drift off; then images would creep,
slowly seep into a vivid horror
of his lifeless body bleeding on your floor
outside the bedroom door
next to that battering ram.
Damn, I wish it had never happened.
[Kevin]
That was fortunate.
I had a living nightmare
with which to contend
to fight and defend my right
to be emotionally
distraught but still free
to seek solace in sea waves
crashing on hard rock
or take stock in Autumn trees
enchanting my sad soul’s gaze
to raise my spirits
to behave with hope to cope
with fearful thresholds.
[Bree]
We have to get through this.
What if I can’t regain my lost bliss?
[Kevin]
There is no quick remedy.
We, both, need some comedy.
[Bree]
We need to get back.
Shannon is great picking up the slack
that wracks my haphazardness.
[Kevin]
We’ll go very slow.
We need to be sure we know
what we feel is real
against our stimulating
naïve mutating falsehoods.
[Marlo]
Often kitchen volunteers
are revered by employed help
as they mingle in
a symphony of motions
producing portions
of fine nutritious delights
to fight off nagging hunger.
Committee members
having consumed their fill still
needed to adjourn
the night’s slated procedures
while the help bussed tables
to enable space
for them to embrace their place
in communal acts
that guarantees each to reach
personal satisfaction.
They will feast and speak
of their own concerns confirmed
by others as true
or as an anomaly
to perceive but be rebuked
as weirdness filed
for future contemplation
should tension arise
that comprise a surprised need
for reevaluation.
[Diane]
It would seem to me
that if we break into teams
we could fly through chores
and score some more time to dine
with ease as we shoot the breeze.
[Yolanda]
I’ll recruit a group
to collect and stack dishes
in dishwasher racks
ready to ride the short slide
through the hot water steamer
and hot air blower
that sterilizes and dries
before they are stored.
[Diane]
We’ll rearrange the tables
to change their positioning
accommodating
ease of communicating
between all of us.