I almost always mean the words I say,
and very rarely speak them to an ear
that pays attention. “How are you today?”
I’ll answer with the facts. See I’m sincere
and courteous and truthful and direct,
but most the time that isn’t understood.
It’s missed, or if it’s noted it’s suspect
(how likely is it she can be that good?)

So usually my tongue is in my cheek –
my words rebound to tickle only me.
The almost-mythic locutors I seek
are rare as touching possibility.
(But sometimes careful language finds an ear
and then these observations disappear).