Tolerance

Youth is not a fruitful season for

Open-minded tolerance.

The liberal creed of leniency

Is not an inbred social trait.

 

It’s more of an acquired nature

Summoned through experience,

Although it seems some never grasp

The aptitude to watch and wait.

 

Stumbling through my tender years

I felt the angst of restiveness,

Engaged in animosity with

Bickering and baleful brawl.

 

And though I made it to adulthood

With all my teeth, I must confess to

Trying much too hard to

Run my raucous race ere I could crawl.

 

And still I find it difficult to

Turn deaf ear

Or suffer fools,

I’ve made a point to find the wrench of

Tolerance among my tools.