Poem: It Was A Demand

It Was A Demand

You asked the question,
though it was clear,
had been clear
for so long,
what I would say:
you asked,

asked as if
it were asking,
but it was not,
I know that,
you know it too,
knew it then,

knew it when you asked
that you were not asking
were demanding,
telling me
I must give the answer,
must permit this.

You asked me,
but when I said "no,"
when I still said "no,"
you did not listen.
You want credit just for asking,
not for listening to the answer.

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