She may consider you her closest friend.
Her go-to interlocutors are you
and most her life her sister. You contend

with her enthusiastic points of view,
her pacing judgments and her snap advice,
the blurts and cold assertions how to do

what she would, did or thinks. She isn’t nice –
although she means to act polite and kind,
her passions to proclaim emotions ice

your conversations, chilling heart and mind.
And though you’ve loved her and believe you will,
of late to open talk you’re not inclined.

Four days ago you opted not to spill
some issues that collected near your feet
like weights that drag your steps and pleasure-kill.

Refusing to invite her to mistreat
your ear with counsel neither earned nor sought,
you said you weren’t ready to accrete

your feelings into paragraphs. You thought
you’d sit with sad in silence for a spate.
She claimed she understood (she knew she ought).

Then yesterday she said her sister’s state
of late has been to want to call but not,
suggesting heartfelt confidence can wait.

Of course she understands, but not a lot.
That’s two-for-two who talking will suspend,
a gentle message bluster hasn’t got.