I Am A Man Of My Word Poem by Raj Dronamraju

Under shadow broken up by illuminated shards of dark dedication
I am a man of my word - Serious, humorless, casually obsessed
Tiptoeing past Darwin's grim realization
And plant a posthumous marker on those who couldn't heed a warning

Although coincidence was accepted as an explanation
I cautioned you by being present
Gifting the scene with exterior photography menace
Representing where storms break even

Across the street, vantage point subliminal worries
I am there even though it doesn't register at that precise moment
From behind a tree or on a park bench
Let's not make this terrible but this time I am prepared to be terrible

When they suggested to just act, don't think
It was counsel reflexively rejected
Instead, it's back to sweating over snubs and negative visual self-predictions
Compulsive over rehearsal of pre-planned dialogues

My word is my bond and my bond is not in keeping with decadent turbulent times
I hope you're scared for you embody the guilt of your gender
Obsequious politeness washed off leaving something hard and tight
When it snaps, you'll be hit by the flying pieces