To Choose or Not to Choose

To Choose or Not to Choose

When asked to choose my side

   Upon the great issues of the day,

I pause for many moments to bide

   As I formulate what to say.

What envy can I feel then

   For those with ready response;

They need not ponder deeply when

   Prepared answers echo with nonchalance.

But so slowly, I too oft consider

   Details and circumstances around

That trouble not the quick bidder

   Who the singular choice trigger found.

In their black and white world,

   Decisions are easy and definite.

The truth is snappily unfurled 

   With a salute quite requisite.

Who will dare to disagree

   With such firmly held stances,

Anchored on one foot like a tree,

   Immune to all argued advances?

To pit one tree against another,

   Grown as deeply buried from its seed,

Merely flails branches without bother,

   To which neither pays any heed.

We slow thinkers soon are lost

   In the forest of quick spouted advocates

Who do all the ground exhaust

   In our forum for public debates.

But yet I stop and take my time

   Although my opinion goes unheard.

Thankless to try to add Reason to Rhyme

    When chanted slogans descend to the absurd.