Perfect Indifference

It strikes us right now the puzzling look,

or perhaps it’s the matter of pleasant ignorance,

for gracing our minds is the place just took,

whatever it is it’s now taken precedence.

The perfect indifference of intentions unseen,

a mish-mash of commitment that’s too easy to escape,

when people decide they wish to glean,

that’s when we can all begin to relate.

Opposition’s not the place of war,

as if people were doing it despite us,

those against us are those who snore,

as we ignorantly power away on our bus.

Who’s on-board we may well ask,

what seats are filled as we look around?

before us right now stands the task,

determining those who choose to be found.

~*~*~*~*~

More on the Science of Indifference

Indifference is the perfect opposition. It slowly, silently and secretly slinks out of the door before the charge of commitment is requested or made. It is not ‘with us’.

It is a cowardly nemesis enshrined in vice—a heart ambivalent to the intended goodness of action proposed.

Analysis of the Poem

Puzzling looks and other such confusing body language are invites for accountability, for those not understanding will never commit; nor should they—they’re yet to be convinced. And unless we get to explore the misunderstanding—chasing that lack of meaning—we’ll both be distracted from the importance of the task at hand.

Life in this sense is about shared meaning; two minds, or many, merging in the congruence of purpose. This is the best of the concept of ‘relationship’.

Those who are truly against us are not the vocal minority, but the silent few (or even majority) who vote with their feet.

The bus is a Jim Collins metaphor for alliance. It is fine to know who have chosen not to board the bus; it is those who we search for under the seats of the bus that we truly have the biggest problem with.

At the end of the day we can only work with those who choose to be found by us.

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.