Challenge

Old school

an insult is regarded as a stain
erasure needs a solvent that’s unique
removes the perpetrator duly slain
with all the forms traditional for the bleak
procedure called a duel guns for two
but just one coffee (type unspecified
beforehand) and before this comes the due
glove-slap the challenge not to be denied
or hidden or avoided without loss
of face without which life is scarcely worth
continuing though more or less coin-toss
decides who walks on who lies under earth
when challenge issued has been fully met
some people simply can’t resist a bet

In school: challenging behaviour

The words I use are cheeky, impudent,
or rude, though knowing my polite reply
will sound sarcastic, make the incident
grow worse and certainly intensify
resentment out of which the challenge came
and which I can’t accept as justified
because I haven’t treated them the same
as other teachers do but always tried
to be humane and friendly until they
by their behaviour squeeze me in the mould
I want to break yet find no other way
to meet aggression but the distant cold
approach that they invite by how they are
except they aren’t but how speak peace to war?

Mike Rogers

If you have any thoughts about this poem,  Mike Rogers  would like to hear them.