Obliviates

They stand in tram doorways
when the doors open
head in their phones
while a crowd waits to enter.

They walk into a room full of people wearing masks,
walk around for 15 minutes and then ask
“Should I be wearing a mask?”

They smoke or vape
in front of a building air intake vent
with a No-Smoking sign and
a flammable gas warning sign.

In a quiet restaurant
They hold a loud video call
Shouting into the phone
Speakers cranked up.

It must be nice to move through the world so oblivious.
To not notice the needs of others
To not read the room
To not respond to the tugs on awareness of common courtesy.

A true obliviate reveals themselves when
their oblivion is politely interrupted
they respond with verbal abuse
rather than an embarrassed apology.

Is there a cure for this obliviousness?
Maybe only the continued compassion
of others taking pity
on those who aren’t aware
of their inherent blindness.

In their later years
when frail and fragile
the obliviate may wonder why
someone on a tram doesn’t offer them a seat
still uniquely unaware of this reflection
of their own condition.