the question gets asked

whether thru’ politeness

situational demand

how’s things?

& here gets tricky

are they a friend

acquaintance work colleague

neighbour or just a snoop?

because as someone

with an illness or as a carer of

you must manage your response

& this is the worst of it

you must manage them

allow as much information

as each needs according

to their status as too much

& the glazed eyes come on quick

too little & the resent comes in

why aren’t they sharing with me?

& this kills

wears you to the thin white bone

because in the end

so few actually care