Holding

What’s holding you back?
What is it
  you are trying to protect?
     Your essence
     your soul
     your privacy
         or
     your pride?

I’m not sure.
I don’t know how to respond
     because
I don’t always know the answer.

Or you don’t respond
     because you already know the answer
        and you just don’t like it.

Touche.
Sometimes
  that is probably true.
Sometimes
  it is a combination.
Sometimes
  it is all of the above.

And sometimes
  you’re just chicken.

Maybe.
But I don’t think
  that’s the norm.
I don’t always
  remain silent.
And it’s not always wrong
  to hold back and
      think carefully
         before speaking.

Point conceded.
Discretion is rare.

But there are times
  I probably take it too far
     and don’t voice
                something
          that needs to be said.

So what’s stopping you
          this time?