ways of living VI.

as if one played ping-pong

unfairly, slamming the ball

downward at the “opponent”

without letting them know the

game has started---yelling at

them for yelling, when they

haven’t made a sound,

cursing them for not caring,

for never listening to a word

that they say, when in all reality,

this is why s/he showed interest

in him/her in the first place---

making comments under the

breath about characteristics of

said “partner,” which have no

basis in a reality outside the

scolding, outside the argument,

outside the moment---with

accusations of infidelity (when

s/he is the one who has been

looking around), with accusations

of insecurity (when s/he is the

one who truly hates her/himself) &

the film is flapping on the reel.