Dilemma

Whatever we do, whether we light
strangers’ cigarettes—it may turn out
to be a detective wanting to know who is free 
with a light on a lonely street nights—
or whether we turn away and get a knife
planted between our shoulders for our discourtesy; 
whatever we do—whether we marry for love 
and wake up to find love is a task,
or whether for convenience to find love 
must be won over, or we are desperate—
whatever we do; save by dying,
and there too we are caught,
by being planted too close to our parents.