I don’t want to talk about the presidency.
I don’t want to talk about politics.
I don’t want to talk about what’s going wrong
and what you don’t understand
or what your guy is gonna do about it
– or gal
– or other.

I don’t want to get into an argument
or get into a fight
or get involved in mortal combat
or talk about the war
or the other war
or the other one.

I want some quiet time
with my stories
and my songs
and a peace of mind
and a couple of pieces of fried chicken.

And I don’t want to talk about the diabetes
and I don’t want to talk about the smells in the kitchen
and I don’t want to talk about the sores on my back
or my neck
or what the state of my health insurance is.

I don’t want to talk about state’s rights
or the state of the nation
or my state of mind
or high-minded politicians
– which is where, I think,
we came in.

I don’t want to talk
it seems
about anything there is
to talk about
right now.

I want
if you think we can manage it
just a couple of moments
of silence

or maybe the two of us grunting.