Truculent fellow (talush)

I may say I am not listening to you,

or,

rather,

I will say I am listening

but, I will not listen,

or even,

If I am listening,

I will not hear what you say

because

my own

viewpoint

is so dominant

so obstinate

obdurate

immovable

Nothing can come between me and my idea

of the world

my sense of the way

things are

&

should

be.

It may cost me

It may cost others

It may result in the collapse of

everything

but ego

must be strong.

It must stand tall

or at least

shoulder-width apart

as

we rip at the seams.