Covered Buts Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Thoughtless to provoke,
Premeditated wrong actions to take.
To later be heard stated,
With a 'but' and picked 'ifs',
Someone quick will cover up.
Done without consciousness.
That disrupts to corrupt,
One's peace of mind.
Torn and tattered to leave in pieces.

"But...
My thinking did not consider,
A slapping done in my face.
That did not occur.
So being proactive,
I decided to do that first."

Even though such surprising actions,
Often result...
From rumors to update an instigation,
Mixed with insults and mental frustration.
Of what could have happened.
Although did not.
It only takes one with a loud mouth to start,
A needless and pointless fight.
Erupting into a never ending battle.
That leaves many to suffer.
And more innocent left,
Attempting to mend their broken hearts.

"But...
My thinking did not consider,
What I would do...
After my face had been slapped.
An act that did not occur.
I decided to be proactive.
So I went ahead,
And did that slapping first."

On and on.
And from the beginning of finding,
Denial and lies with excuses to make.
Covered up 'buts' and their 'ifs',
Are often these days...
To be heard everywhere.
Regardless.
Of whoever is left scarred and wounded.
Dropping to their knees in prayer.
For the rest of their lives.
While one tries to eventually get,
Empathy and forgiveness given.
Done with this delivered,
On a silver platter served!