If you listen for five seconds
To strangers conversing

If you butt in, briefly–
Proxemically. Not verbally.
Spatially but not personably.
Maybe, extending your arm,
tossing away an empty can.
Communicating basically
nothing beyond presence.

“I know I owe you money,
but you should remember–”.

It is as if you were not there.
At most, you were, some trigger,
some filter, silencer, enhancer;
some influence on the response
you didn’t quite fully hear.

It is a reminder, if nothing else,
Other shit is going on.