Amita Sarjit Ahluwalia writes

COLD CORE

From where

Does that hard cold core come

Which defines you?

Yes I can be cruel

Even deliberately, knowingly,

In calculated words

But that is when I am blazingly angry

When my space is violated

When people act unknowing of their own privilege

Blindly bigoted

Blasè with entitlement

Make commandlike requests

Barge poke probe stare

Are insensitive

Are cruel

I lash out

I do not nurse grudges

I block people

I throw them out

I do not sneer

I fight a clean fight

You can see me fighting

See my weapons

See my cause

On my escutcheon

My heart

On my sleeve

I am not duplicitous

I am not tactful

I don’t mull poison

I don’t brew hatred

I don’t breed gall

Wert thou my enemy, O my dear friend,

What wouldst thou worse?

 

My anger is temporary

Your coldness is permanent 

The waste hurts 

For in the end

We all die