straightforward

clinical detachment
professionally cold
no chance of warm entanglements
the paradigm grows old
and yet endure it must because
the mess which would ensue
defeats in part the purpose
of the consultations you
embark upon to mitigate
the stressed and strained result
of feigned enthusiasm
at the office church or cult
or even in the bosom of familial retreat
when ruled by expectation
honest feelings take back seat
projected cultural norms demand
some distance from the fire
burning hot for conversation
more than physical desire
more than choreographed scripts

                              although tactile affirmation can
                              judiciously applied
                              fill a calculation chasm
                              when it's honestly inspired

so the symptom and the cure
more than a little look alike
makes one wonder if the local
road is faster than the pike
and rather than deny and hold
the client at arm's length
is it better just to make a friend
and from them gather strength
while basking in the resonance
they smile and do the same
community established
worthy goal for any game

© 2018 Frederick Andrew ~ All Rights Reserved