Cold War

Hello he says
without taking his eyes off his breakfast
as she walks into the kitchen,
and she answers hello
the way she would recite
the digits of PI.

He can’t remember
the last time he cared enough
to ask a question like
what do you really want to tell me
about how the sky makes you feel
when it’s trying to rain
but the rain just won’t come.

But with missiles on both sides aimed and ready,
the safest strategy is
to speak only when necessary
and silently pray
that a missplaced word
doesn’t turn this kitchen
into the end of the world.