eavesdropping | writing about strangers

A poem about being a street poet, people-watching, and recording passing snippets of dialogue from strangers.

Humans gossip and bitch,

they banter and boast,

they talk and they talk

and they talk talk TALK.

They say it’s rude to eavesdrop

but my hearing isn’t so good

and people need to speak up or

repeat themselves for me to hear

whatever the hell they’re saying.

So if I can hear your conversation

on the busy morning metro,

just know:

you’re making it easy for me

to turn your gossip into

a fat and juicy poem.

I don’t know you or your name,

don’t worry about your privacy.

We’re all human—that’s why

I’m paying attention.

I’m learning to be human like you.