He Smiled And Started A War Poem by Raj Dronamraju

I want to be your significant misunderstanding
That which breaks all lines of communication
Too sensitive were the people he met
Not mockery, just trying to share in enjoyment of the moment
"He's sneering at me, he's leering at me"

I want to be your unforgivable insult
Your intercultural breakdown
Your lover of the storm
It's when lightning slams into the earth and leaves fear and from that point on a noticeable wince at far off rumblings in the sky

But I want no part of weaponized smugness
Sloth as a feeling of entitlement
Enhanced vagueness and words that trail off into starvation awaiting rescue parties that never come

Who are you? - Don't answer that!

I will be the cannon fodder to bear the brunt of your narcissist's deafness
And I will defend myself through expressionless distance
Transfusion of bad blood that is only visible as part of the physiology of a false impression