Well, well, well. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of one of them long, yelling rants, you know what I’m talkin’ about. You get the words, right? Someone’s hollerin’, just lettin’ it all out. Maybe it’s about something small, maybe it’s about something big. But the end of it—oh, that’s the part I’m gettin’ to. After all that ragin’, you just stand there, waitin’ for them to catch their breath, don’t ya? That’s when you get the words after a tirade.
Now, there ain’t no need for fancy talk here, I’m just tellin’ ya like it is. When someone finishes their tirade, that’s usually when the rest of the words come out. You know, them words that sorta tie up the whole thing, the ones that are like an apology or a “but” or maybe even somethin’ like, “I didn’t mean it.” It’s like they can’t help themselves; they just have to say somethin’ after lettin’ all that steam out. Sometimes, it’s a sigh. Sometimes, it’s just quiet, but sometimes it’s a quick remark to make it sound like they’re done, like “Well, that’s that!”
I remember one time, Old Man Jack was goin’ on about how the crops weren’t doin’ so well. He’d been goin’ on and on about how the weather wasn’t right, and the soil was all wrong, and the neighbors weren’t helpin’ much. You know the drill. He was shoutin’, flappin’ his hands, the whole nine yards. And then, after he’s all worn out, he just stands there a minute, lookin’ off into the distance and mutters, “Well, let’s hope it don’t rain too much more. Otherwise, we’re all sunk.” That’s the words after a tirade, ain’t it? Like a final little thought thrown in, real quick, and then silence. You just stand there, waitin’ for somethin’ else, but there ain’t nothin’ else to say.
And that’s the thing about words after a tirade. They come after all the big, heavy talk, and sometimes they can be a bit of a letdown. You’re expectin’ somethin’ profound, but all you get is somethin’ short, like a little pause between the noise and the quiet. Sometimes they’re not even necessary, but they come anyway. Almost like the person’s tryin’ to make peace with themselves or somethin’. Ain’t no rules to it, though. Some folks just need to unload, and that’s their way of doin’ it. They let out all the rage, then they throw in a word or two at the end to wrap it all up.
What do we call these words, anyway?
Well, there are a lotta ways to describe it. Some folks might call it a “grumble” or “mutter.” Others might say it’s just “aftershock talk,” when someone’s still riled up but tryin’ to cool off a bit. I reckon it’s just the way things go, like a storm that passes, but you still hear the wind blowin’ after it’s gone. Ain’t much you can do about it.
But then again, sometimes them words after a tirade can be more than just somethin’ casual. I’ve seen folks use it to try and fix things. Like after a big argument, someone might say somethin’ like, “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, it’s just I get mad sometimes.” And those words, they can be the start of a long conversation or the end of a bad spell. Depends on how you take it. But those little words, they sure do mean somethin’—even if it don’t seem like much.
Why do folks have to go on so long in the first place?
Now, I ain’t one to gossip, but I’ll tell ya, some people just like to hear the sound of their own voice, don’t they? It’s like they can’t stop once they get started. Maybe they’re mad about somethin’, or maybe they’re just frustrated with life. But there’s something about lettin’ it out all at once. It’s like when you spill somethin’ on the floor and you just can’t help but make a big mess. Afterward, though, there’s always cleanup to do. And that cleanup? That’s them words after a tirade.
Does it make a difference, them words after the rant?
I reckon it does, but only if you’re lookin’ for it. If you’re sittin’ there waitin’ for the person to apologize or say somethin’ nice, you might get disappointed. But if you just let it go and listen, them words after a tirade might show you somethin’ about that person. Maybe they didn’t mean to yell, maybe they were just frustrated. Maybe they’re sayin’ somethin’ they didn’t know how to say before. It’s a funny thing, ain’t it? Words after a tirade—always feelin’ like somethin’ important, but sometimes it’s just noise. Still, it’s there.
So next time you hear someone let loose in a big ol’ rant, just wait for them words that come after. They’ll tell you more than the rant itself ever will. Might be small, might be quiet, but they sure do say a lot if you listen close enough.
Tags:[tirade, anger, frustration, rant, words after a tirade, apology, venting, anger management, emotional release, language]