Others have idle chatter, Friendships, that idle grow; I am alone—no matter — Maybe ‘twere better so.
Others have aspirations, Shelving their thoughts from me; Strange are their innovations; Brothers we'll never be.
Others are turning slowly, Watching the way I take; Perhaps they think ’tis holy, Perhaps a great mistake.
Anna M. Johnson's "Differences" gives us a speaker who feels set apart from everyone around her. In the first stanza, other people fill their time with "idle chatter" and friendships that fade from neglect, while she is alone. She brushes it off with "no matter," then adds that maybe it's better this way. That small shrug sounds a little too casual, as if she's trying to convince herself.
The second stanza widens the gap. Other people have ambitions and ideas she doesn't share, and they keep their thoughts from her. "Brothers we'll never be" sounds like acceptance, but also a quiet sting.
In the last stanza, the others watch her from a distance and wonder about her path. Is it "holy" or "a great mistake"? The speaker doesn't answer. The mood is wistful and guarded: she holds her head up, but the loneliness shows through, and the poem leaves her uncertain about her own choices.