The Truth About Tigers

When you choose the big community table
at the coffee shop—
the tall one with long-legged chairs
and enough outlets to power
a small battalion of laptops—
you’re quietly saying,
It’s okay, stranger, you can talk to me,
if you need to.

But if you’re at that same table,
headphones snug over both ears,
laptop open like a small barricade,
the message is different:

I’m here to work.
Or write.
Or read.

Not looking for casual chit-chat.

But still—
I’d rather not be
completely alone.