The Response

You’re going to think

It has to be done

With words

It’s the fault of your position

You’re used to giving speeches

We’ve made you give speeches

The implication is that speaking

Solves problems

It doesn’t

Not always

And in this case

Speaking

Speech

It’s a weakness

It’s something I had to convince

Your father as well

Some other head of state

Would say something against him

And his first inclination

Was to strike back

With something forceful

Or witty

And because he looked so dashing

When he was being forceful

And so charming

When he was being witty

It was hard to hold him back

But what our mother taught us both

Moreso him than me

Since he was going to be king

And I was just going to be

The sister of the king

Is that--

A response

Is often

A revealing

Of a weakness

That the strongest thing you can do

Is let the other person’s words

Fall where they may

The first few may land

With a splash

Get some attention

Stir up some whispering

But that’s a river

That has to flow both ways

For it to have any real power

And if you let it run along on its own

Eventually, you turn the other person

Into a madman crying out

And people--

They walk on

Now, I’ve read your response

And I believe it to be eloquent

And quite impressive

But it’s still a response

The nature of a response

Is to legitimize

Something that was said

Whether that be the case or not

How many statements have I read

In my time here

That started out by decrying

That something that was said

Had no relevance?

And yet how can that be said

When it merited a response?

Better to let the air

Slip slowly out of the balloon

Than to pop it

A pop draws more attention

That’s what I told your father

And that’s what I’m telling you

Now, if you’re still mad about all this

In a week’s time

By all means

Respond

But I think you’ll find

That the time it takes

For new worries

To overtake momentary slaps

Across the royal cheek

Is swift

But a response is a log in the fire

No, worse--

It’s fuel to it

I’d prefer you let it pass

And concern yourself

With things you can accomplish

And not shows of strength

Strength is in the silence

Weakness is in the response

Trust in your aunt

My dear

She knows all about

Keeping things

To herself