the bending of trees

instead

of discussing current events,

politics

and the nonsense

of woke

cultural,

we pretend to get along.

we talk weather,

and box scores.

we point out the window

at the bend of

the trees,

we ask each other what

that cloud looks like.

we talk food,

and drink.

we're no longer true

friends, agreeing to disagree,

we're strangers, 

acquaintances, now

forty years in.