He asked my thoughts on politics
but before my mouth could move
he stormed ahead with words of dread
drowning out the room
and on he roared, a raging flood
I chose to bide my time
for it was plain enough to hear
I couldn’t change his mind
no reasoned fact, no cautious note
no plea for honesty
was going to change this zealot’s fears
about humanity
I smiled and offered my goodbye
I scarcely think he heard
for he was talking to himself
since no one else concurred
a sad day for democracy
sad for humankind
when we fail to listen with respect
for want of open minds
tio stib,
2017, 2018
You might also enjoy: Blind Man on a Bench, Almost Heaven
Travels with Tio 
Seems I could picture that scene from my own life experience. Your poem has good rhythm. It races boisterously like his mouth and comes to a quiet certainty which is a place we’ve all been. My daughter who is only 16 states it well recently when we were in the presence of the over bearing verbal presence of a family member. She said, I just sit silently knowing what I know proving them wrong.
Fortunately, the world is filled with many wise and gracious minds such as your daughter’s. Thanks for your thoughts and best wishes for a joy filled Thanksgiving.