Embarrassment is thought.
The embarrassing situation
Of no money makes us do
Embarrassing things for money.
No money, no food. But starvation
Is a physical fact beyond thought.
Embarrassment is thought.
Embarrassment keeps us from starving,
Makes us say hello, makes sure we do not
Embarrass ourselves on the job
Interview; embarrassment makes sure
The driver does not crash the car, the accountant
Does not get the figures wrong, the speaker does not forget
The words to the poem or the song.
Embarrassment is everything.
You listen to embarrassment, or listen to nothing.
If you say, “I love you,” and she looks blankly,
Embarrassment calls the cops, for every embarrassing
Thing has been extended into law.
When you talk out loud to yourself,
It’s embarrassing. You jerk,
You say to yourself, don’t embarrass yourself,
Do you want to lose your job?
How will you live? How will you think?
It’s going to be alright. We’ll survive this embarrassment.
What is this invisible thing called thought?
What did I do? Was the message sent?