Second Edit: Pleasantries

[Richard]

Pleasantries

Make her smile on her birthday,
some stupid joke that isn't me.
Conversation flounders as small talk
grows like a rising tide.
They always said drowning was peaceful,
but overactive brain fires desperately-
unresponsive hands continue to grasp
plastic cutlery she bought.
Her lonely eyes whisper
that it would be rude to leave,
while sickly sweet cake scrapes
coffee stained esophagus.

First Edit:

Pleasantries

Made them smile on my birthday,
some stupid joke that isn't me.

Conversation becomes drenched from
small talk (tiny words building waves).

They always said drowning was peaceful,
but overactive brain fires desperately,

unresponsive hands continue to
grasp plastic fork and knife,

stationary feet feel it rude to leave,
sickly sweet cake scrapes coffee stained esophagus.



Original:

Pleasantries

Made them smile on her birthday,
some stupid joke that isn't me.
Small talk saturated the conversation.
They always said drowning was peaceful,
but my brain desperately fired:
unresponsive hands continued to
grasp plastic fork and knife,
stationary feet felt it would be rude to leave,
sickly sweet cake slid down
coffee stained esophagus.