The Price Paid

There is a price to pay,
For being conscious.
And aware of it.
With a doing to feel,
Forced to sit and tolerate...
An absence or the avoiding to use,
Common sense.
As one sits patiently trying,
Not to roll eyes or figid through this...
Sharing of foolishness.
Others around unaware,
That one looking up stares at the ceiling.

There is a price to pay.
To ignore a doing one knows,
That should not be done.
Then stunned to expect,
Excuses made to be accepted.
And...
If this is not done,
Everyone made to look up at the ceiling...
Becomes blamed and accused,
For discussing...
The most uninteresting stupid stuff!

Leaving apologies to give them,
Coming too late to pretend the faking...
Of an asking to be forgiven,
From the ones obviously too ignorant.
To know the word or what it means.

'You did not...
What?
Ignorant?'

'Well...
I am not usually the one,
Intending to become the center of attention.
Now I feel included,
In participating to discuss a topic...
All of us will leave here,
Learning something about each other.
And...
Not feeling to have been,
Purposely offended by anyone.'