I never said
“I’m sorry for your loss,”
though I am.
It just seems so trite to say
and I’m so late now in saying it
I’d rather express something with a bang.

That’s important, isn’t it?
Being impressive in commiseration.

I also want to say “Congratulations!”
for your recent successes,
but that seems rather too insipid, as well.
Really, I must be more original than that,
so quiet brooding will have to do.
Perhaps you’ll understand while I maintain
a secret distance all this time
but probably not.

Know that I’m thinking of you, though,
even as I convey it
in no discernable way.