I admit he has a certain amount of charisma
and I’m sorry about the leg, but
it was either him or me.
I’ve had plenty of bad moments over this thing too.
I keep asking myself: Why Me? 

I’ve always minded my own business. God knows
why he’s is still stalking me.
I don’t hold anyone’s personal limitations
against them, but it’s clear
the guy has problems.

I’ve got a heart as big as an eat-in-kitchen
but I’ve had enough of his bad mouthing.
He’s publicly cursed my name
and accused me of being malicious.
Who started this whole thing?

For crying out loud, he was the one
who attacked me. I’m not a vigilante,
but I don’t know how much more of this
I can take. It’s like the guy
just can’t take no for an answer.

Matthew Sisson

- from The Mercy of Tides

MATTHEW SISSON’s work has appeared in The Larcom Review, Poetry Motel, The English Journal, East Of Eden, and the anthology Mercy Of Tides. He is the poetry editor of the trade journal Modern Steel Construction and owns and operates a steel fabricating and erecting business in Boston.