A conversation, long overdue,
beyond my control of topic,
breadth. Ubiquitous fear revved,
crushing me, yet I faced it, scorning
deep desires to stuff it down,
to quell emotion. I held my ground,
listening rather than planning
response. I empathized,
understood, accepted as his,
his premise without assuming
imposition of the premise on me.
Recalling my role – to say what I mean,
mean what I say, and don’t say
it mean – I answered point by point,
my truth, my premise, my response
and came away enhanced.