UNOBTRUSIVE STARES

We grew to relish compliments
Through silent unobtrusive stares
Like craftsmen sometimes give to one another
To show their admiration...
We cleared our plates at supper
As a tribute to our mothers,
And meekishly accepted an allowance from our fathers
As a gift we hadn't really earned...
But when the time came for apologies
No explanation seemed sufficient;
Just a different unobtrusive stare
As we thought of all the ways
To make things better.

Ken Siegelman
Brooklyn Poet Laureate