When we see things which are open and free

We sometimes do interpret them all to be

Things which are aimed ... directly at us

Because they are there, & so of course must



Have been intended to be left for us to see

When, in fact, this might not be the case tree

There could be valid reasoning behind thoughts

Which have crept up on us, and thus we sought



Inwardly to our very souls, mind and heart

For words of hurt have pierced them hard

So we lash out with our own bag of tricks

And pull out all the stops so we can lick



The perceived aggressor who has so tripped

Us, along with those who side with like lip

And so we do propagate even further erosion

By lighting fires, causing greater explosion



And thus do feel somehow we've been vindicated

For now we can be on top of things with stated

Ideas based on our own contrived assumptions

Which we gladly hand out with so much gumption



Have we thus won anything with our aggression?

Or have we just advanced an apparent lesson?

... Which is only ours to see in makeup exams

For this is the only way we'll be able to say 

                              we understand ...



- Tristram