THE CHAT ROOM.<br />
<br />
Today I went online to chat<br />
I do not know what prompted that.<br />
Perhaps I wanted to explore<br />
as I have tried to chat before.<br />
<br />
But in the past when I logged on<br />
the online people were all gone.<br />
Just one message on the screen<br />
reminding me that I had been.<br />
<br />
I cannot overemphasise<br />
how much it took me by surprise<br />
to find someone already there<br />
full of chat with time to spare.<br />
<br />
I did not quite know what to do<br />
and momentarily withdrew.<br />
But they all took cognisance<br />
of my inexperience.<br />
<br />
At first I knew not where to type<br />
as technophobic archetype.<br />
Eventually I worked it out<br />
and so my chatting came about.<br />
<br />
It felt as if I fitted in<br />
as they were all so welcoming.<br />
And though our chat was short and sweet<br />
It was so good that we could meet.<br />
<br />
Somehow I felt that it was wrong<br />
I could not stay and chat for long.<br />
As much as I would like to stay<br />
I had to get to work today.<br />
<br />
This encounter worked just fine<br />
but next time that I chat online<br />
I’ll try to have some time to spare<br />
so that I can stay on there.<br />
<br />
Bill Withers 2012<br><br>
<br><br>
<br />
Today I went online to chat<br />
I do not know what prompted that.<br />
Perhaps I wanted to explore<br />
as I have tried to chat before.<br />
<br />
But in the past when I logged on<br />
the online people were all gone.<br />
Just one message on the screen<br />
reminding me that I had been.<br />
<br />
I cannot overemphasise<br />
how much it took me by surprise<br />
to find someone already there<br />
full of chat with time to spare.<br />
<br />
I did not quite know what to do<br />
and momentarily withdrew.<br />
But they all took cognisance<br />
of my inexperience.<br />
<br />
At first I knew not where to type<br />
as technophobic archetype.<br />
Eventually I worked it out<br />
and so my chatting came about.<br />
<br />
It felt as if I fitted in<br />
as they were all so welcoming.<br />
And though our chat was short and sweet<br />
It was so good that we could meet.<br />
<br />
Somehow I felt that it was wrong<br />
I could not stay and chat for long.<br />
As much as I would like to stay<br />
I had to get to work today.<br />
<br />
This encounter worked just fine<br />
but next time that I chat online<br />
I’ll try to have some time to spare<br />
so that I can stay on there.<br />
<br />
Bill Withers 2012<br><br>
<br><br>