Personal Pet Peeve

My personal pet peeve
when people talk when I’m talking
or when I’m interrupted
before I have the chance to say anything

My personal pet peeve
people
who are prejudiced
unreasonable
illogical
who don’t respect others

My personal pet peeve
arrogance
gossip
conceit
backstabbing
being ignored
overlooked
being the butt of insulting jokes – racist, homophobic, sexist, ageist
feeling powerless to change

My pet peeve
when people make annoying, disturbing noises
people who whine and complain about the government
make no effort to improve it
sad or angry people who make everybody else around them
sad or angry
people who adopt views they don’t understand
just to fit in
people who pout about petty problems
those who are self-absorbed
those who will not accept something new or unusual
who make fun of it because they are afraid

My personal pet peeve is regret
it annoys me to no end
but when I regret something
I feel awful –
and then I realize
how silly regret is in the first place

My personal pet peeve is on a crowded subway
those people who stand in the way
with large backpacks on
and headphones playing around their neck
instead of quietly in their ears
Makes me want to shove past them
into the aisle
while stealing something
from their packs
and cutting the headphone wire
And maybe step on their toes
or elbow them while I’m at it.
Instead I just complain loudly to friends
about people who do such things.
Or I write about them.

My personal pet peeve
people
who shop while on cell phones
who drop their cigarette butts wherever they please
even if those butts are still smoking
who try to push their religion on you
who chew with their mouths open

My pet peeve
people who misspell the names of
their so-called favourite bands
when it’s quiet in a classroom and someone sniffs

My personal pet peeve is toast crumbs in the butter
SERIOUSLY!