asking for what you want
is not a simple matter.
some people just
open their mouths
and the need emerges like a
fully formed ribbon
satiny and red
or purple and crinkly like
carefully crumpled paper.
for some people, articulating
is as simple as
making noise.
but I’m not used to it–
explaining to myself
is much easier than
convincing others.
is what I want the problem
or is it everyone else, or perhaps
I just expect them to read my mind?
that’s not fair.
but neither is this.
I wish I could write each
request down on a soft yellow
slip of paper
and receive responses just as sunny–
‘oh yes,’ they’d say, nodding
‘we can do that.’
and so we would.