Strike the right tone

It's simply the wrong volume

They say.

Got to be soft and tender

It's no longer about the words I say

Or the message I convey.

It's always the same tale.

People getting lost in the tone.

And simply without fail

I become a lesson to be learned

(But they never want to).

The way I shape my vowels 

Around my consonants 

In my mouth.

An exclamation mark too many.

Simply too loud.

The way I swallow words

Down with my spit 

Just to burn the hurt

Right out with my stomach acid

(But it never becomes delicate enough).

The way my existence is too present,

And the way silence was implied. 

Expected to be stuffed 

Back into my intestines 

To be digested 

Until I can lie

And say all is fine.

All is well.

Can't you tell?

Never meant to break 

Your image of yourself.

I'm right here, spit me back up.

I never was easy going down.

Everyone needs to be reaffirmed now 

That they are a good person.

I guess that is all that matters.

I guess this is what we care about.

It's settled.

Who cares that people can still hurt my feelings.

I'm all but stone in people's minds.

Fuck, you can still hurt my feelings. 

Especially when they get denied

(But they'll say they didn't).