• Hearken, thou curdled whisper of a comment, for I shall not fold my tongue at the snapping of thy fingers. Thou bid’st me “shut up” as though thou wert lord of breath itself, crowned by wisdom and anointed by sense. Yet behold, I see no such crown, only a wobbling cap of folly stitched together by idle noise and borrowed confidence.

    Know this: my voice is not a tavern door for thee to slam, nor a hound to be kicked silent at thy leisure. It speaks by its own leave, as rivers run and bells toll, caring not for the complaints of those who dwell ankle deep in their own puddles. If silence were gold, thou wouldst still be bankrupt, for thou hast spent thy sense on a single dull command.

    Pray, if my words sting thy ears, then retreat, noble snail, back into the shell of thy scrolling thumb. Cover thine eyes, avert thy gaze, flee the field. For it is not I who must be quiet, but thou who must learn the ancient art of minding thine own business.

    Thus I remain, unshut and unbothered, speaking still, while thou mayest take thy own counsel and, with all due medieval courtesy, shut thyself up instead.

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