He said a mouthful
A storm of sentences colliding into our courtesy
We tried to catch our breath, gasping for the right
response
But heavy words chased the air from the room

He said a mouthful
He didn’t chew on them nearly long enough
We hoped he’d swallow his pride like we swallowed
conflict
But diplomacy played no part in his diet

He said a mouthful
Too much for him to keep a tight seal
Spitting darts no one had time to dodge
We licked our wounds rather than wage a war
of tongues

He said a mouthful
Candidly, cuttingly, clumsily,
We were too shocked to buffer the ripples
Repercussions blunted the point of remediation

He said a mouthful


B. Toner. January 2024