Temper Tantrums

As children, we beg and whine
wail and cry
hold our breath, pout, stomp down the hallway
slam the door to our room

But when we grow up
We learn to be polite
we find other ways
we numb ourselves
Drink, drugs, food, sex, work.
We still throw the tantrums
But in slow motion
In the thousand little ways we flagellate ourselves
In the thousand little slights and hurts we hurl
at whoever is nearby

We are still children
aching, disappointed
stunned to find cruelty where we expected comfort
Returning to look for it
again and again.