A Little Too Much

Once I met this distant

Relative on a bus.

It was the casual awkward avoidance

Accompanied by the 'No way

Not to notice' thing.

"Hey, I heard you were in the town."

I noded in affirmation with

The best smile I could bring up.

"I heard you are only a visitor here now.

I heard you moved out in June.

Selfish people could care less

About one's whereabouts,

But how do you manage?"

As questions were rhetoric,

I was the listener.

"I heard you had meningitis last month.

Good that you have recovered.

I had heard from a friend

Of mine that his friend

Once had meningitis.

Poor lad thought it was

All better, only to find

Himself dead one morning.

I heard you got a promotion too.

You know, good news travels fast.

I heard you are going

Sydney next month.

Isn't it cold in there now?"

I had to get down at the next stop,

Without a word of courtesy

Would be unfair I thought.

"Oh dear! Don't you think

You hear a little too much."