Say something.

No, wait, don’t.
Somebody might hear you.
Write it down!
No, wait –
somebody might read it.
Okay pantomime it!
What?
Yes! like Marcel Marceau!
Show me what you
were going
to say.
What if we are seen?
Hmmm.
Our faces will brighten with pink
for a moment

our skin will burn,

then we shrug our shoulders

tip our hats
bow deeply
curtsy
smile
and saunter away like Fred Astaire

knowing we tried.

There’s just no pleasing some people.