the sister

the sister, her tongue
in a knot
can't tell you anything.
it's a code
of silence
punishable by death,
I guess.
but it's fine. you are
just being nice,
stopping by,
being neighborly
being kind.
you only want a general
idea of how
she is since
the break up.
that's all you want.
nothing more, nothing less.
just hello. goodbye,
then move on
to the next.