Anti-Social Networking

She flung hard words at me

like stones – in a public forum.

(Could have been worse. Virtual

reality won't break my bones.)

I knew they were fired 

from a slingshot of rage

looking for the nearest target.

It just happened 

that I'd placed myself

in that general direction.

'I'm not playing in your yard

any more,' she yelled,

or words to that effect.

I stated the facts –

which were also points of logic –

calmly, once, then told her

she was free to leave;

no-one would stop her.

Witnesses remarked

on my gift for diplomacy, 

praised me: 'She was upset.

You let her be heard.'

Later, looking back

on what I'd said,

I was proud to discern

that I had delivered 

a perfectly polite,

unassailable, 

'Fuck you!'