Declaration of War (poem)

By Luke Labern

Chastizing words, ice-cold delivery --
You felt confident; but can you live with me?
Hypocrisy falls like acid rain, dissociating sense
From reality. You antagonised -- do you have a defence?
You can joke and make light of the scene,
But will you cower when faced with the obscene
Nature of a man pushed past his limit?
Our meeting's inevitable: will you submit?
Will you back up your words? Are you a man?
Many people have tried, but eventually ran
Away from me. I don't want what you've got,
I don't want to be friends. Take the first shot.
It's the only one you'll ever land.
I'll tear your persona asunder, until you're nought but sand,
Grains fading into the wind, sprinkling over my palm.
If you get a cold shiver, remember: I'm still calm.
Why try to inflame me through fences and chains?
That's just a shock, whereas I'll run through the mains --
Distribute a thousand volt punch:
You'll be knocked out before it's time for brunch.