Confrontation (The) Poem by Tom Courtney

I pressed my face in the crowd tonight
I had to speak to the group
I had to tell them just what I thought
And stick my neck in the soup

I could have kept it to myself
I could have contained my fervors
I could have remembered that silence is golden
But I put my mouth on maneuvers

I was thinking I don’t need this issue
This is minor for honor and face
But it wasn’t my day to swallow my cud
And my speech lacked the style and grace

He said all the nonsense that started me
I reacted in the worst sort of fashion
I was bristling for a good confrontation
And I gave him my point and my passion

I said Mister please think your point through
No one threatens your fiefdom or reign
A junkyard dog is unwanted
And you’re bound and determined for pain

I went on the list his infractions
And I told him just what I thought
But he shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said Fella
From my view I just did what I thought

And I walked away huffing but thinking
I can’t really win at this game
If our paths deem to cross in the future
I won’t be changed and he’ll be the same