I am trying to remain friends
with even the stupid people in my life:
the mouth breathers
the mongoloids
the moron Trumpet strumpets…

Little as I’m interested
in arguments about religion
or politics
or fashion
I know I need their voices
to keep me honest.

I need to hear the idiots
and their asinine opinions
and assumptions about ignorant ideas.
Little as I want to hear them
I keep my ears open
and my mind available

They won’t convince me
on the quality of The Voice
or the matching of socks
or the necessity of mandatory abortions.
Still
I act
as if it is a possibility.

Pretending to listen
is how
we maintain civilization.