"Slow To Anger" Poem by Lex Strider

"Be slow to anger, quick to love."
Ha.
Love is fleeting, gone in an instant
Or it's fostered over years of trust
Or it's shattered in an instant
A wine glass to a high C.
But anger?
Anger is different.
Anger is recognizable.
Anger is familiar.
Anger means something more.
Anger keeps us moving forward.
"Gross"
"Ungrateful"
"Spoiled brat"
"I'll give you something to cry about"
I hear these things.
I hear them from those I am supposed to love.
And you expect me to be quick to love?
Love is messy and complicated and so, so imperfect.
But anger moves us onwards and upwards.
Anger will get me out of here.
Anger will make the caged bird free
So it can finally sing on its own
Instead of following the call of a tyrant
I feel no love for those people.
I feel anger, and I have no obligation to forgive.
And I will never forget.