Know When to Stay Quiet (Choose Love)

I wrote a poem called 'Stomping on the Daisies' after a brief interaction with a stranger on the internet.

It's a poem about people who want to argue with you. The kind of people who have to be right and who feel the need to tear others down to feel valid.

The specific interaction that inspired my poem consisted of 4 comments: Me, them, me, them.

Now, it's annoying, because I wanted to have the last word. I wanted to reply again, address their comments, and defend myself.

But, I could tell that there was no point.

I had to know when to stay quiet.

There was no room for movement in their words. No seeking, just telling. No warmth, love, or understanding. Just trying to get more information from them about why they had formed the opinions that they had formed, would have likely resulted in more unfriendly words.

So, I chose to stay quiet and let it go. What does this person's opinion matter, right?

Except, I didn't let it go. (Because staying quiet is hard)

I wrote a poem about it and have spent some time thinking about it ever since. Not a lot. Just tiny moments, here and there.

And now, I have written this blog.

Not responding makes me feel weak.

I want to argue. I want them to explain why they had formed the opinions they had. I want to explain and defend myself. I want to look good (and preferably, make them look a little silly in the process).

This is how the cool kids do it these days <3

But I didn't. Because I don't need to. That person's opinion does not need to matter to me.

So, I will turn words designed to pull me down into fuel. Creative ammunition. Colour, and feeling, and energy.

And that is how art is born.

We can't control other people, but we can control ourselves.

Choose love.

Marley x

Find more of my poetry HERE

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