Relax

 

When I sense threat
I’ve been known to bellow
resolution comes more quickly
than approaching it mellow

if still no resolution
things may get rip-roaring
again — more effective
than simply imploring

I will never come calmly
when hedging my bet
never surrendering my fate
to tones that are dulcet

don’t tell me “relax”
or suggest that I breathe
if it’s gotten that far
I have started to seethe

pulse beatin’ — I’m screamin’
and gone out of my head
begun to coarsely embellish
with a face that’s beet red

if matters still aren’t settled
I don’t beseech — I fall quiet
then start starin’ daggers
before bringin’ the red riot

*
rob kistner © 2022

FOCUS WORDS: bellow, rip-roaring, dulcet, seethe, embellish, beseech

Poetry at: dVerse

 


42 thoughts on “Relax”

  1. Fuckin’ A, brother. Anger management, like obesity, have been my life-long companions. But for me, my anger has cost me more than it served up. Too late to change now. I’ll try not to be too angry when the owl calls my name.

    1. Anger does not come easily to me either K. Too often I defer, to my detriment. But when I sm pushed to the edge, my anger can be powerful. I seldom get to that point. Because I do not enjoy the feeling in the moment. But I am a survivor in my life, so I have used righteous anger for protection — for myself and for my love ones. I am not one to start a fight, but attack me or mine, and I will finish the fight.

  2. The point of release…there comes a
    moment in times when it is reached…a most sincere poem …and enjoyed v much…

    1. I am a very rational man David, as long as I am being met with rationality. And I can sustain patience for quite a reasonable period. But if I fall totally quiet, unmoving, and begin to stare intensely — then it is perhaps best I or the other, backs away. My adrenaline reaches a level where I feel no immediate pain. Only been there maybe a half dozen times in my adult life, and it is never my choice, it has always been a situation of — “no choice”.

      1. The last time I lost my temper was when someone told me to calm down… I wasn’t angry before they said that. 😀

  3. YIKES! I don’t want to get in a disagreement with this person! Whew! And the image matches to post so well. Beet red indeed!
    See you at dVerse LIVE today? Hope so!

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