The poison arrow of insult
Is released from my bow
For the target near at hand
For him to fret and crow

And yet what happens next
Takes me by utter surprise
For all the invectives I throw
Greets them all with a smile

Blind with anger and rage
End up shouting some more
Without any effect on him
Putting up quite a show

Till it finally dawns on me
That pound for pound
An insult not internalised
Hits you on the rebound

Starting off the aggressor
And winding up as a victim
An unsavoury situation
An unpleasant ending

Subir Chakraborty / 1st May 2018