It was a bit like a bullet
tumbling through empty air
an interruption
a moment in thought
a maybe
Did you say ‘he’? No
I’m not asking, not really
I’m sure I misheard you
I mustn’t be sensitive
of course
If that’s what it was, I’m alert now
and I am ready to turn or duck
I’m twitching
alert to your words’
intention
I am pronoun selective
afraid of shooting myself
with your slip of the tongue
unconscious mate/guy/fella/he
meaning she
It’s not the word that wounds
but the mental image
the association
the feeling: but-you’re-really-a
aren’t you
Why should I need to explain
why I think ‘bullet’
when you say ‘he’
and it won’t make any difference
will it