It took me several hours
to find the ribbon and bow
around the insult
you presented me
the moment I learned
to stand up for myself.
It is an odd phrase
I weaponized kindness
but my thank you
caught you
like a sucker punch
to the face.
Your startled silence
was not the worst thing
to ever happen to you,
but something
from your personal history
filled your mouth
with lemons.
I knew that screw-pucker
sensation from disarming
my own petty angers
and I prescribed salted
dry roasted almonds
to remedy the tartness
of your tongue.
copyright © 2019 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 