primed always to hear an angry voice

projection is a scarf wrapped around my ears

to filter the words and tones

for any speck of upset

pull at any thread

easy to find why someone could be

cross at me

in my pussyfooting

hopscotching efforts 

to evade displeasing

friends, family, and strangers alike

my calculated footholds

serve mostly to provoke

the self-same ire 

i yearned to dodge