not serious

it was not
serious
only but a joke
one of no particular meanness
but of them we have insufficient familiarity
to be taken less than
seriously

it was not always so
our mistaken perception

at first glance
might a fool
feel flattery afoot?
yes
or an idit

not serious like
cancer
but
like it matters
when after all
there's no reason to matter

those for whom such things matter
would never ask
such a question of us
no, that is not
the way it is

this is not
one of those lives
to which such questions are directed
we are not
such people, of any such importance
to whose answers any would listen

that's just not the way it is