Cost Of Space

Free speech
What does it even mean
This here is speech, set down on a page
Free — unrestricted, and without cost

And yet, these words can begin to cost
Cost me — my safety, standing
Cost others — their peace, their space
When they go out —
Enter another’s perception

In my space — a private space —
This speech is free, costs nothing
But touching another
Might become intrusion, threat, even harm
Met with restrictions, distortions—
Sanctions, detentions, or worse

So too the body — here, in a space its own
Unseen by any other — free
In another’s space — becomes alien
Even a danger
A sneeze, a cough, one’s breath —
Words, appearance
Sounds, movements —
In another’s space, each
Costs

What’s free speech then
What’s free breathing, free appearing
Free moving —
Unless
A space no one else —
Can enter