Dominance
We open up to those who, we feel,
will share our picture of ourself.
How confident we are is proportional
to how much of a chance we're willing to take.
We can resist those who won't agree with us
up to a point.
And we can be open towards those
we're not sure will agree with us
up to a point.
To practice full openness all the time
is self destructive
and to seek to dominate all the time
is cowardice.
But somewhere there are our peers
with whom dominance and openness balance.
to scare yourself by opening to your peers is healthy
to be an idealist and open yourself to non peers
is insane whether you win or lose.
Gallagher
15 April 75
— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —