Respect Respect

Departing

A poem about taking control

When there is a lack of respect My tummy starts to tighten Then my eyes begin to burn From sadness if it is a person I care for From anger if I am at work or out I can feel the throbbing in my neck My fingers curl toward a fist My stomach produces bile that I can taste The bile is always the signal I use to gain control Either confront, address, and communicate Or leave I confront when there is even a tiny, tiny chance of gaining respect I depart when there is not Some respect is not worth the trouble to gather Some respect must be in place to live a full life Don’t spend energy on people who don’t want to respect you

Thank you, Paper Poetry, for this most excellent prompt

https://readmedium.com/with-all-due-respect-b1b49e533c5c

I invite Julie Greenidge to this prompt.