a thoughtless trespass
moved by piqued esteem
no harm intended, minding not
another’s deep despair
like random keys plucked
from school laptops
just to make a word
to put in his pocket

“buck up, pal” the
minor indiscretions
mean no harm
do not intend to injure
only careless words and deeds
that damage nonetheless
and so defend against this
formless threat of danger

the snide, the trite, the insincere
that brew and simmer
one day may
no longer be repaired