A spider occupies the seat beside me in the terminal.
Our morning flight’s delayed. We’re grounded here for now.
His sharp appearance, suit, tie, polish, all for business,
Shouts loud that he is predatory focused on success.
Success, of course, is money. Time is money.
Minutes can’t be wasted. Every tick must earn its keep..
The cell-phone in his hand spins out a sticky thread,
“I’ve just heard something useful and my first thought was of you.”
Again, and yet again through numerous stored numbers,
“I’ve just heard something useful and my first thought was of you.”
The first time it could well be true. Reiteration brands it lie
With me beside to hear. No shame to him apparently he’s networking,
He’s selling. The acknowledged good, where everybody wins.
Which proclaims us real no-hopers. We who don’t make friends to use.