As Any Wise Man Would

Boys can be really stupid. I wish this happened more often.

His hands were clenched in fists of hate.

His heart beat faster still.

If peacefulness won’t lift the weight,

He thought, then violence will.

 

“This has gone on long enough.”

One’s thoughts were ringing loud.

“It’s time for me to show my stuff

And prove me to this crowd.”

 

The other thought, “It shan’t be so.

A fight would do no good.

It’s smarter just to let it go

As any wise man would.”

 

One was ready, one was sad.

It had to be this way?

And so, instead of fighting back,

He simply walked away.

 

The other was confused at first

But soon he saw his err.

Before another week went by

Good friends, again, they were.

Reviews

[MuSe Ampoule]

Good show of conflict here. When I read it first up until the 4th stanza I read it as internal conflict...but realized at the end this was 2 boys (not reading the note at the top). Good message, more should forgive and be friends. Great job as always Truman.

[aloha.]

very unconventional. not close to anything else i've read.
i do love how it shows the inner workings of a guy's mind when he gets upset at a friend. it's interesting. nice work! (:

[JelliFyshKissUs]

I wish it turned out this way more often as well. I'm used hearing boys talk about how they and there best friend fought over something trivial (like a steak bone or something) and then they're friends again like nothing ever happened the next day. So weird.
Masterful poem. Superb meter and rhyme. A melody we all like to hear as we read this in an undertone. And a positive subject amongst writers filled with so much angst on here--including me sometimes. Very refreshing.

[C.]

Like it. Good beat and flow. The "me" instead of "myself" in s2, l4 drew a bit more attention than it should have, I think, though I'm not sure what else you could have done with it. Oh, and s1 is marvelously crafted. It evokes a visceral and primitive reaction in the reader that helps him or her relate to the protagonist. Well done on that. My only other comment is that the opening of the poem created in me a desire and an expectation of catharsis which went undelivered. But perhaps this was intentional. If so, then I kind of like it. The reader feels the emotions of the protagonist as the poem progresses, which is a nice touch. Not sure if I liked the title, though. A little too obvious for my tastes. But to each his own. Cheers.