It started innocently enough,
you came in angry, feeling roughly
treated, but this was out of sight,
and I was ignorant. So tough,

you thought, to an imagined slight
and muscled up ready to fight!
I backed away, caught by surprise,
hastily trying to put things right.

Keep calm, I thought, and lowered my eyes
seeking to help you realise
that I wasn’t a threat to you at all
by paying attention to your replies.

Gradually the fire went out,
the fight became fresh shoots of doubt,
a wondering if you’d read things right,
the beginning of a turn about.

It was satisfying today to turn a tense situation into the start of a much better relationship.
(12.05.26)

© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Maxime Gilbert on Unsplash