temperamental, they call me
hush, child, your voice is too strong
too forceful, too passionate
too demanding

temperamental, they sigh
you need to learn how to control yourself
reign in your emotions
they shouldn't be running so freely

temperamental, they snap
sweetly you must talk
kindly you must sound
like wind-chimes in an April breeze
or the polished laughter of a Polish princess

temperamental, i am
but why can't i be?

i am human and i can feel rage
i can feel a ferocity beneath my skin
i am a wolf and i will howl

what do you expect me to do 
when you speak words that serve as 
slashes on my armor?

don't tell me to sit down
don't tell me to close my mouth
don't start a fire in me
then expect me to burn away 

temperamental, i am
a wildfire that will consume

i am neither sweet nor kind
let my anger be as ruthless
as the fires that fell
upon Pompeii

let my voice be as loud as a lion's roar
i am wildfire
temperamental, i must be 

* * *
in which i try and write poetry, and it does not work out well