jerk-worms and coyotes

These jerks and worms
who act like the things we do or say
are governed by rules
that apply to us all,
and can be known -
they keep going on and on
about not knowing what
they can and can't say anymore.

Because "the rules have changed,"
well, jerk, or worm, no

they haven't. The rules are not.
And they have always not been.

The only rule is: you

are responsible
to know who it is you are talking to,
and what they will want, or welcome from you.
Everything you say, you know that it's cool, or
you're taking a chance. A deliberate risk. Own
it.

Because every damn time you make a mistake,
and you say or you do something they sure hate
- it is you who is wrong.
It was you who presumed. You who guessed badly
that you knew them that well. Enough to believe
they would take it well, and so you risked saying
whatever it was

that you fucked up with. Well, that risk
was yours. Wasn't it?

Do you crawl back into your shell, jerk-worm?
Or claim it's their fault, that you didn't know them?
As well as you thought or were sure you did then.
Shall you never make leaps or take risks again?
Shall you blame them for being unfair, or incensed,
or hyperinsensitive, or something? Or complain
that there aren't any rules for you, you can go by
to know what you can and can't do

with everyone??? So as long as you stick
between those clear lines, any time they get mad -
they're the one wrong?

Only a jerk-worm wants something like that. Wants to make
someone else

at fault

for their own guess, and decision, and act.

Yes: keep trying to know a person. Keep testing and learning,
keep growing in trust, and keep making leaps. Just -

when you leap wrong?

Fall to that Wile E. Coyote death
with some dignity

Fall all the way down, and hit the ground hard,
and make a huge cloud of dust,

and drag yourself up, and
go back to the board.

And for God's sake don't feel
you need to emulate Wile E. Coyote
in other respects, but damn

dude could take a fall
like he won an award