Why Don'T You Go First? Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

You are too curt.
Too blunt.
Too direct and outspoken.
And on top of that you are arrogant.
I can't stand you!

'Hey...
What can I say?
I awaken some days...
And discover I can not stand myself.'

You're kidding?

'Nope!
Just this afternoon,
When I decided to have lunch...
At the Foxwoods Casino,
Where everything is great.
I sat there alone feeling so blessed,
I kept myself away from several people...
Just to enjoy that alone.
I did not want to upset anyone's day.'

Are you being sarcastic?

'I have no clue.
What do you think?
Should both of us get away from me?
How about if I let you go first?
Yeah.
Why don't you go first?
I'll watch your back.
How about that? '