The Wall of Words

Two philosophers
making a wall of words between them,

a wall so hard
that it would stop a train of thought
travelling at high speed,

a wall, the completion of which
provides them both
with serious relief,

a wall, thank god, that is always beyond
the perception of a dog,

a wall to which they can press
a Buddha-sized ear
and listen . . .

listen for the lament of the other,

listen for an argument with a spouse,

listen for a joke which they, too, can understand,

listen for a rasp.


Two philosophers
making a wall of words between them,

a wall of words
through which certain other words
will always pass.