the wallpaper-like skin
apparently glued to his bones
tore around the lips
as he rasped about whatever

I sat with my ear plugs
shouting just loud enough
to drown out the fellows
rants about whatever

I could hardly stand to
watch him sit there
like a useless broken
furnishing by the fire

I rarely looked up
doubting he cared anyway
lost in my own thoughts
actively ignoring the fool

because some of my blood
ran through his veins
he was useless nevertheless
hardly worth talking about