The Illusion

Photo by Tommy Lisbin on Unsplash

Oh,
to be that guy…
the one with broad shoulders that
keeps secrets well
and processes feelings
with calloused hands,
through shooting baskets,
or hammering nails,
or shredding on a fender strat,
rather than through endlessly spilling
these useless words
on page after page,
or into the well-worn ears of tired friends.

Oh,
to be that guy…
who rides hardcore trails
on expensive mountain bikes,
racing through switchbacks;
who snowboards in British Columbia,
practices the hottest yoga,
is training for Everest,
and building minutes into his
weekly polar plunge.
Confident in his control
of his limbs and of his stamina,
as he gets high off the adrenaline
that comes from pushing his body to extremes,
rather than from the vibration of a text
that might be from you.