Except For

Except For

You'd be a wonderful person except for "enumerated frailties"
That seem to dim any light your personality may reflect!
We used to call these narrations a chance to put some other down,
Especially when the preface to this speech sounded like an 'intro' to a clown.

Somehow, no matter how clever the preface introduction was,
It looked like hostility veiled lightly to hide the sharp claws.
This is an extreme example here, but I'm sure that all of us, at some time
Have heard those tales told on others. It really is a crime.

Lucile I. Burke
October 26, 1997

There is, in their mind, a very viable reason for this, but they know not what it really is. People who know why don't have to do this thing to build themselves up.