What do I want? What do I value?

           What do you reject?

 What matters to me? Whose opinions do I heed?

           Whose do you ignore?

 I no longer care what anyone thinks of me,

Or my actions.

           You realize, of course, that you have fixed

           The anomaly of your state:

           You are trying very hard not to care;

           But you do, because you know you must.

The conflict distracts me utterly.

I want to be neutral.

           You gabble.

           What are you fighting for, so fiercely?

 Freedom!

          Freedom is a chameleon goal.

          You never arrive at what you think it really is.

          Who would believe it, except the clear-eyed aged,

          The idea of freedom in chains?

          Or even more -

          Freedom forges chains for its existence?

You gabble too, and puff yourself up

With your own eloquence.

However, I take your point.

           End of conversation?

 For the moment, yes. Thank you.

           One final word.

 You always have the last word!

           Surely you do not think yourself unique?

 No!  Well - yes - maybe.  Yes!  Definitely!

           Reconsider.

 

 

 

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Age 30 at the time