Show This Given Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Mouths kept open wide,
Can not possibly understand.
Or comprehend.
What is said,
Over their heads that flies by.

People like this often comprise,
Many who have minds...
Easily manipulated and compromised.

Those who listen,
With undivided attention paid.
Are among those who later hear,
Others around admit to say...
What had happened many years ago,
They did not know.
Because they were not told.

A respect to get,
Has to first be given to expect it.
No respect should be demanded,
If none of it comes...
From the ones unwilling,
To recognize what it is they don't have.
With it then to become upset,
A time to have had it...
Has gone from them to pass.

Those who listen,
With undivided attention paid.
Are among those who later hear,
Others around them admit to say...
They did not know,
What was attempted to be told to them...
Had been said.
But they were the ones,
Unable to keep their mouths closed.

A respect to expect it,
Begins with it first...
Showing to know what respect to give is.
And many are left to wonder why,
Their lives to live continue...
Making excuses to depend upon alibis.
As if this benefits,
A receiving of empathy.
From those who tried,
In respectful ways...
Telling them to close their mouths.
And leave them shut!

"Oh?
So what are you doing?
Using reverse psychology on me?
Well...
I ain't the one that's got the problem."