Counterbalance

As a poet I’m supposed to dissect my rival

clinically, with precision, use the pen

to puncture them and expose their insides

as a poet, I should use words to bring

them low and land my punches, I should

have class and dignity and use my brains

to take them down but…

but…

As a man sometimes all I really want to do

is feed them to a wood chipper

and revel at what comes out

the other side.