I am such an unpopular human
being.
I should have been born a frog,
or perhaps something a bit higher
up the trunk of a birch tree:
a red-headed woodpecker?
a bushy-tailed squirrel?

I don’t seem to fit in anywhere.
in cafes, restaurants,
I say strange things to the
waiters and waitresses,
nothing ugly,
just rather airy
and not quite
befitting.
I find it funny
but nobody else does
especially
the lady with me:
“you embarrass me in
public!”

on freeways I also seem
out of place.
I slow down to allow people
who are changing lanes
to move into the space in front
of me.