He said the thing 
that annoyed him 
most was when 
I used the word “but”

Perfectly fine word, 
I argued, wanting 
to add more, but
though it would be 
tricky 
without the–
you know

Few have 
made me more
self-conscious than
this man, but yet
I learned 
to communicate
without my–
you know

Now that I’m older,
and more confident,
I am claiming my 
right you use
my “but”
any time or place
of my choosing

I feel good about
my progress–
I wish I could
stick my “but”
in his face, but
he is long gone–

I suspect he
remains a serial
“but” grabber
wherever 
he goes