Please do not take offence
I do not mean any,
I just want to share with you
What I heard recently.
It seems people offend me
Only when I take offence
And I show I am taking offence
When I go on the defense.
Sounds highly spiritual
But this is difficult to swallow
And I will go even further to say
It is somewhat shallow.
Don’t use this I beg you
To excuse your bad behavior
Because to me it is false pretense
Under which you labour.
Few walk around, I'd argue,
Just looking to take offence,
Not if it does not concern them,
No, it doesn’t make sense.
I would agree, however,
That some are rather thin-skinned
And therefore, the slightest thing
Is treated as very grim.
A bounce could be major
And a harsh word, more severe,
Never mind serious infractions
That would be harder to bear.
Yes, I take offence,
When wrong is done to me
Even though I soon put it aside
Without an apology.
Apologies are meaningless
If not from the heart,
And demanding one of someone
Is playing a fool’s part.
It is only an offence
When one puts a meaning to it,
Yes, with certain things I do agree
But with others, not a bit.
It also gives you leverage
To treat me however you like
Since I should never take offence
However severe or slight.
I am all for conciliation
And a willingness to forgive
But to pretend not to take offence
Is likely to be short lived.
If you pass and do not speak,
That’s not a major worry
But please help me to understand
You are not just unmannerly.
If you are unmannerly
This is the behaviour I’d expect
But if something was on your mind
Unmannerly I’d reject.
Communication is important
And thus, having taken offence,
I would get the proverbial ball rolling
In this particular instance.
Hence, allow me to take offence
At least as a means of resolution
Rather than sending a false signal
That just creates confusion.
So, no offence meant
And I trust that none was taken
But if there were in any way,
I ask to be forgiven.
Stewart Russell © September 9, 2023
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