endocrinology is my field
he said significantly
politeness dictated I look up
into his proud face
Oh? I mouthed faintly
fearing elaboration
But Oh? was all he needed
he began his speech as if by rote
the words disintegrating
into the dullest endocrinal
esoterica imaginable
it had an unexpected
anesthetic effect
I touched the cold window
of the train with my forehead
and watched the geometry
of the world hurl by
glimpsed through the surreal
blizzard while his voice
droned and chanted
like a devoted monk
the snowflakes multiplied
glutting the pane with ice