Robin Amy Bass

A BETTER WAY

I used to yell right back at those
Who liked to criticize
Of course, I’m only five foot four
And so it was not wise

To answer everyone with words
Meant only to provoke
And though I thought me humorous
They never got the joke

A featherweight but still I thought
At least I can run fast
Not fast enough – I soon found out
While landing on my ass

I never thought to clench a fist
I claimed myself a purist
The middle finger worked just fine
I told my manicurist

To paint each digit engine red
I’m nothing if not well groomed
And when my nemesis approached
The position I assumed

I’d raise my middle finger high
I proudly flipped the bird
In fact, I did a double flip
At times I’d mouth a word

Or two or three, and then I’d watch
My target as I hit
It’s funny how a “Fuck You Now”
Can really fan the shit

One day while driving in my car
Secure within my cage
A motorist had cut me off
There’s nothing like road-rage

To humble one and make them see
The errors of their way
The guy was angry – six foot five
He did not want to play

And so he followed me for miles
Until we reached a light
He got out of his nice Corvette
I closed my window tight

And locked the door, and brushed my hair –
Then I began to pray
He motioned “Roll the window down”
I said “What did you Say?

My lucky Star was overhead
At last, the light turned green
I said, “I said Have a Nice Day”
He said, “I’ll eat your spleen”

But I was gone, a burst of speed
High tailed me out of town
And that was when my lesson learned
‘Cause now I write things down

Instead of saying what I want
Out loud, and right away
I take the time to think it through
I’ve found a smarter way

‘Cause I can mold my words and craft
A love song or a dirge
And I can type in CAPITALS
Or curse if I’ve the urge

And I can write it long or short
In poetry or prose
And I can make it very clear
Or make sure that no one knows

The way I feel inside myself
On any given day
Yes, I can mail the letter out
Or just throw it away

And so when I meet up with those
who ask me for a fight?
I simply choose to walk on by
I go sit down and write