My sixth poem for National Poetry Writing Month uses the prompt from Napowrimo.net—‘write a poem that looks at the same thing from different points of view.’

Differential

Some people see
efficiency
exactitude
the effort to make
everything
just so

I see unwillingness
to forgive mistakes
having to make everything
just so
because every mistake
is magnified a thousand times

Some people see
proficiency
prolificacy
a pace
perhaps without
precedent

I see hours
stretching out before me
and doing
whatever I can
to fill the time
with something worthwhile

Some people see
a source of knowledge
information
answers
for just about everything
an eye for detail

I see an obsession
with detail
not wanting to miss
anything
wanting to make myself
necessary

Some people see
failure to achieve potential
paralysis
a state of inaction
inexplicable
puzzling

I see willingness
met with conditions
barriers
indifference
and silence
as though I were invisible

I see atrophy
stemming from
lack of attention
or recognition
You may look
but you don’t see me

(5 April 2017—posted April 6th ET)