On the Dangers of a Shared Vocabulary

you and i
have so much in common
history, ideals
prophets and heroes

i admire and envy your accomplishments
you admire and envy mine

perhaps you are an arab, and i am a jew
perhaps you are an irish catholic, and i am an irish protestant
perhaps you are green, and i'm a lefty democrat

we are close.

close enough to see that sweet soft spot
which can thrill to the other's caress...
or debilitate and infuriate,
when i give it that little poke
we both know so well

no one else would understand
just how i managed to hurt you so much
with such a seemingly innocuous gesture

no one else is close enough to see the spot
no one else is close enough to know what the words mean.