The poet gets That Face. You know the one. The face where you want so badly to argue for your own self-deprecation, have a genuine deep-seeded disagreement with another's positive perception of yourself, but you also don't want to put that person in the position of arguing for you. It squirms over his face for an uncomfortable moment, then is forced back down into him.

"I think it would be a good idea to back away from these things," he says, nodding. "And I... yes, I'm new here. Still, ah, a little lost, if I'm being perfectly honest. And I haven't eaten. I haven't needed to eat for a while."