When things don't go

Quite as you'd hoped

There's always a choice

One can make to employ

A little switch which

Will silence the pitch

Of an ornery old cuss

Who so abuses the trust

Of all who share space

With him in this place



So we can line him out

And thus silence the shout

Which does turn us about

And then we become stout

For we have taken a stand

By performing a deed so grand

But in doing so - we have

Eliminated further salve

Which could have been part

Of subsequent action's start



So employing it may incite

Peace in you from fright

But it could mean also 

You wind up being shallow

Of further involvement

Which could have sent

You into understanding

Something which did blend

And allow you to see all

The qualities which pull



One person like a magnet

To another whose set

Of traits is more direct

Than many you've met

And so you overlook

The assets of a cook

With tools which provide

A good place to hide

From the everyday stress

Of life which is pressed.



- Tristram