. . . is that pity or empathy?

Is there a difference

   There is. I don’t want your pit . .

. . My feeling of sorrow compassion  for your suffering your misfortunes

                                                                               None  Figure youve earned them

Empathy My ability to understand to share your feelings

                                                             None   Keep your tinglies to yourself

My compassion is hard won Sometimes   I think it doesnt exist

   You think you’re coldblooded?

I like black humour sarcasm satire I like noir hardboiled

                                                              Those don stand on pretty shoulders

Yah  Coldblooded

                    Commonsensed

Im a firm believer in accountability Knowingly preferred though unknowingly too crosses the line

                                                                                                       Tough

Innocence dies every day

                            Fair  Unfair 

Coud wish it woudnt be

But thad be wishing

                        I don believe in tha either

2306,  Thursday,  22  2. 24

1244,  Sunday,  25  2. 24

began Mare of Easttown on MAX

                                   enjoyed Kate Winslet followed her project to project

she didnt let him down  Ever

a character an unwed teen mother talking to her baby son . . . that you can love someone so much is scary.

                                                                                                                    a sob caught in his throathad to stop the programme  had to gather himself 

he made a lousy job of it

too close to home

   for the rest of his life she would remain close

                                                   a day didnt pass that he didnt think of her

somedays hed wake shed be kneeling on the foot of his bed

in his eyes when he opened them

                                     sometimes waking him   misty  hypnopompic

he expected nothing less

   he expected shed see him over the Finish Line 

2121,  Saturday,  24  2. 24

1218,  Sunday,  25  2. 24

he saw no ash on Valentines Day

                                   talking with a buddy  You were outanabout were uptown  I was walking an reading around here   Did you see any ash on Valentines Day

Ash?

        What are you talking about?

Valentines Day was also Ash Wednesday beginning of Lent

Oh. I didn’t realize that.

Didnt realise 

I’m not religious.

As a boy you went to church with your parentsyah

   Yes.

Until how old

Until I graduated high school.

So  From a boy to graduating high school off to college you went to church Sunday

My Mom . .

. . Stay on point

                 Church  Sunday mornings

Yes.

Thank you

             Don plead ignorance Youre familiar

What of it?

I know you were rollinround town Do you remember seeing any ash on foreheads I didnt see one ashed soul 

I can’t say I did either.

                          Why are you bringing it up now? Valentine’s long gone.

I was talking with a friend a woman she made other plans didnt see her boyfriend He was miffed  She told him it didnt strike her that their relationship needed to celebrate the date  He didnt try to make any plans for themhadnt looked ahead  She told him she had no intentions of sitting around on her hands

Do they have a good relationship?

As good as relationships go

                             As I told her  most couples celebrate Valentines Day because theyre gonna get laid

Jesus Christ.

   Jesus Bets

What?

Theyre bets  Don implore Jesus

   Whatever, man.

Day damn near broke my heart

Which?  Valentine’s or Ash Wednesday.

Ass Wednesday

                 I love ass   No ass for me

Jesus . . .   he withheld Christ  was rarely a quick study

                                                          Don’t know what to say.

I do

What’s that?

   You didnt either

2043,  Thursday,  22  2. 24

1132,  Sunday,  25  2. 24