"Faithful, sensitive, forgiving: over thinkers
like me make the best partners" – The Guardian
Believe me, we who constantly obsess
Can't simply turn it off. You'll never know
How badly I would love to let things go,
And yet that's not an option: I confess
Each conversation's mentally replayed
For what might seem, to others, far too long
Before deciding all I said was wrong
When every consequence is closely weighed.
To be too conscious is disease, all right:
On this point, Dostoevsky knew his stuff,
Though I'm not sure our sage went far enough.
(Did consciousness keep him awake at night?)
My sweetheart says don't overthink a chat;
For months I'll mull on what she meant by that.