I don’t think your rapprochement is going to work out
the way you had hoped.

You promoted your act at the funeral
joking and laughing through the whole showing.
You were not trying to keep a brave face
– you didn’t care at all.
I’m amazed anyone talked to you after that.

Though actually, they tried to fade out
from your life
but you wouldn’t let them artfully disappear.
You required the noise.
You commanded it.
When Shane tried to just leave you be,
I heard you stalked his job
until his boss made him go outside and talk to you.

You wanted him to run lights for your show?
How’d that work out?
Did he do it?
Did you finally take the hint?

Look, you’re not a bad guy,
except you actually really are.
You’re thoughtless and insensitive
and you can’t feel your way
outside of a paper bag
which shouldn’t be a difficult thing to do
– but you’ve got it puzzled out to an impossibility.

I think I can speak for your entire community
of former friends
when I say,
“Thanks, but no thanks.”