100% Certain

My friend believes
every word,
"You can't" she says,
"take out a word you don't like
without diminishing the whole."
"Are you certain," I ask.

"One hundred percent certain."
"Unequivocally."
"Absolutely."
"Unquestionably."

"Literally," I ask.
"Verbatim," she said. "Word for word."

"Are you certain about being uncertain?" she asks.

"Yes."

"I believe in metaphors, allegories,
and parabolic renderings—"


Poetic Asides prompt