Caren Krutsinger Poet Free verse

Respect Is Automatic Until

Respect is automatic
until they have double-crossed you six times
spit in your underwear
and you have caught them in their eighth lie

Respect is cheerfully given
unless they hurt your feelings good and hard
unless they trip you at the top of the stairs
unless you overhear them making fun of you again

Respect is eagerly available
until they remind you of someone else
who has disrespected, hurt or betrayed you
If they do, it’s all over before it gets started.

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Kim Rodrigues April 1, 2020 at 4:12 PM Sounds like a lot of anger coming out! Caren Krutsinger April 2, 2020 at 1:08 AM I was just pondering different people and various moments in my own life.

Naderia Bookram April 1, 2020 at 9:19 AM This is very deep with a sense of people betraying and disrespecting I like it Naderia Bookram August 15, 2022 at 9:00 PM Most welcome Caren Krutsinger April 2, 2020 at 1:09 AM Thank you very much.