indirect indira

likes to beat around the bush
with her camouflaging words.
she goes off on tangents,
wanders blind canyons
loses herself in war stories.

she cannot set the battle line
out there in No Man’s Land.
out there where the skirmishes
are a contest between General Overkill
and Sergeant Specific.

until she finds authentic need
and exacts a firm edge,
she’ll continue to toe the line,
conform to expectations,
spout clichés and slogans,
baffle the boys with bullshit.

it’s all about her fear,
about minimizing
the wounds inflicted
in the war of unspoken words
and unmet needs.
 

~ Kathie Sutherland
02/27/2007