If you cannot

This is not okay he said
Tossing the paper down
Turning away from me.

I’m sorry so sorry.

It’s okay. Go do what you have to
Come back when you can.

I can not
He said.

Both or either
I ask.

We laugh then
At ourselves
For thinking we even know
What we cannot
Do or be
So far ahead.

It seems like forever
He said.
It is
I replied
If you cannot.

Copyright 2007 Ruth Harrigan