Histrionics

Measured action, measured reaction 

Domains of the wise

So I thought as a young man

Uncle William Major was wise

Not maniacal as others I knew 

So it was a mild perturbation

When I first seemed a lesser man

Flying mad

So passionate

Threatening to rain a plague

on any who disagreed with me

Once Uncle William said of a man:

“That man is a little high strung”.

“High strung???!!!” 

Wise Uncle William said that of the man

Who ran off with a thirteen year-old girl

And returned married to her

What he called the man

Who beat her within an inch of her life

More than once

So bad she had to have shock treatments

To rid her of ensuing depression

If that’s what the wise man said

Who am I to argue?

The truth is

There are times to be passionate

For what you feel in your soul

Sure the wise may take the middle path

Deflect the darts of the silly

With the hard shield of reason

And without wiggling a finger

Or raising a voice…

But if you live long enough

Someday, something will happen

Requiring you to reach down for strength

To become a little animated

And with your sanity intact

Dance a little jig

Jack a little jaw

It may not be pretty

But that’s okay

Someday, something might require your histrionics. 

All the more reason

To remain reserved til then

As the impact of extremes

Depends on contrast

And when you are done

You can always

Wise up again