Learning to Communicate (Poem)

Learning to Communicate

Go ahead,
now!

Trace that line
of thought

between your first point
and your next

and be prepared
to scrimmage.

I know you know
somewhere

down the line
somebody's always ready

to draw a line
to hold a line

to bring you
into line.

That's not my line.

So drop it!
Don't take that line

with me.
For once

put yourself on the line
and stand

where I stand:
on no line

not in the line of duty.

I know you know
you have to

get out
of line

to cross a line
to see

how a line
can curve

can cut in
then go out again

even before
too fine

a line gets made.

Yes, we all have
to take a turn

getting back
in line

with what's expected.

But first
give me

any line you want;
spin it out

and reel it back.
You're sure to line up

with the best of 'em
so long as you vow

to keep the line open.

© 2010 Maureen E. Doallas
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I wrote this poem for Carry on Tuesday, which each week provides a prompt that participants are to use wholly or partly in an original poem or prose piece.

The prompt for Tuesday, August 31, comes from the first words of the famous Frank and Nancy Sinatra song Something Stupid (1967): "I know I stand in line . . . ."

To read other Carry on Tuesday contributors' poems or prose for Prompt #69, go here.