.

Knee Jerks

When wronged or hurt,
the way life works,
we all convert
to knee-jerk jerks.

Our brains react,
but do not think.
It’s just a fact,
our instincts stink.

We can’t forget
or dare look weak.
Our ways too set
to turn a cheek.

Soon eye-for-eye
is just the start
as each reply
aims for the heart.

We escalate.
Bloodshed ensues.
When led by hate,
we win, but lose.

When we react
without control,
once we’ve attacked,
we’ve lost our soul.

The world is fraught
with rage and hate
and we must not
reciprocate.

Don’t jerk your knee,
delay and pray
for strength to see
a better way.

Then let your King
respond for you.
The hardest thing
you’ll ever do.

.

.

Warren Bonham is a private equity investor who lives in Southlake, Texas.

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The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.


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13 Responses

  2. Shamik Banerjee

    I love the form and the way the stanzas develop the message in a stepwise manner. Thanks for the read, Mr. Bonham.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      I may not use this form again. It was harder than I thought to make things fit with fewer syllables to play with but I’m glad it seems to have worked.

      Reply
  3. Norma Pain

    I really liked this poem Warren. Nothing good comes from knee-jerk reactions, a message we can all appreciate.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      This was really directed towards me, but I have observed a few others who might consider taking a breath before reacting.

      Reply
  4. C.B. Anderson

    Nice dimeters, Warren. But damn! My tongue hurts from biting it so much. Tolerating the intolerable isn’t easy.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      I definitely haven’t mastered the art of tongue-biting either. Intolerable events seem to increase in number and severity every day which makes this very hard to put into practice.

      Reply
  5. Margaret Coats

    Warren, what a sterling coin of classic wisdom! You’ve put it succinctly and smoothly. I like the analysis of the cause at the beginning, to show that being wronged or hurt can lead to the disastrous knee jerks you then describe in sufficient detail. The final stanzas prescribe a superior response, based on a text you don’t quote: “Revenge is mine, says the Lord.” I admire your putting so much so well into so few words. This is a keeper!

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      That text is a great way to sum it up! Thanks very much for the thoughtful comments.

      Reply
  6. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Warren, I like this brief yet intricate form to make a powerful statement. Well done on its execution! I agree with your message on face value but have learned that it isn’t always good to spend time analyzing the guts out of a personal response in the interest of civility, and picking and choosing words that won’t offend before responding. Some people beg for a knee-jerk reaction – it’s swift, it’s honest, and it might stop them from being such an arse in the future. 🙂

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Amen to that, Susan. The SCP didn’t become the free and powerful place that it is by pulling our punches, or responding politely to leftist rubbish.

      Jesus may have told us to turn the other cheek. He didn’t tell us we couldn’t kick our opponent in the balls.

      Reply
  7. Warren Bonham

    I can’t disagree that there are times when turning the proverbial cheek isn’t appropriate (Jesus certainly did His share of rebuking). I haven’t figured out where to draw the line but I know I could do with a little less knee-jerking as satisfying as it can be.

    Reply

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