Keeping Your Temper (Poetry)

Why do so many
tempers go missing?
It’s such a shame for
they should have been kept
but once lost it is

too late for wishing
that sudden tantrum
of tears was unwept
for it’s gone with no
hope of retrieving

one scrap of calm that
preceeded the storm
now the atmosphere
prickles with tension
and pride hangs forlorn

Blind rage undermines
and barges on through
red rag to a bull
the game’s up with you
sharp tongues commit crimes

‘Sorry!’ whispers thin
temper’s disappeared
has ceased to exist
the dark clouds have cleared
remorse shuffles in ...