Love You More Than That Poem by Louise Tredoux

I say one thing –
you hear something else,
I tell you how I really feel,
my words are reflected back
as an attack

I’m shocked by your
interpretation of my ideas;
I didn’t mean that –
why is communication
impossible

Why is interaction
a dangerous practice?
Yet I have to agree,
it is quite possible
to interpret

My words like that,
your motivation is beyond
reproach, your perspective
will inevitably
force you

To interpret like that –
father dear, should I
break off all communication
just because my meaning
is NEVER clear?

I very much fear
the influence your relay
of information will have
on third parties; but
social interaction

Is not negotiable –
I must count my words
weighing the evidence
contained therein
carefully

I love you more
than that…