I Wish I Knew Why

we’ve been trying for about three years now
this woman and I
we’ve been trying not to acknowledge
that we can never be friends
we arrange weird get-togethers
that feel uncomfortable from the start
both of us have quit one group
and one of us another
that we used to attend together
No violence
No blowup
No word or clenched jaw
I don’t dislike her
I don’t think she dislikes me
You might think it boils down
to preference
except for the myriad interests
we hold in common
or perhaps it’s
some kind of misunderstanding
except that I know it isn’t
I think we both know
that in this life
and perhaps for many more
we can never be friends.