They Say

I made a woman cry once

And I am not proud of it.

I would say I am sorry if I could

But it was long ago and I

Don’t even remember her name.

She sat at our table and made

All sorts of statements.

Big ones, about her beliefs.

And my point,

While perhaps valid,

Was not very smooth.

Why do you believe this?

What do you mean?

And those things that she held

So strong and so hard

She really had no idea

About them.

Perhaps she had heard it once

Or twice, but clearly had never

Thought through it.

And I’m sure that there are

Times when I make a statement

With no backup beyond that

Frightful "they say".

It’s not how I want it, however.

I’d rather talk and hear

Of thoughts and ideas not

Declarations of this or of that.

And when I feel strongly or have

An opinion, I want to know why I

Believe it that way

And listen.

So I’m sorry dear lady

Of my actions that day

And I hope that you will forgive me

But I have learned both of others

And of myself,

A lesson learned a hard way.