You and I are a lot alike
Except that you’re a woman
I’m not
But we share some of that other stuff
You’re pretty cool, cagey
You don’t jump into things
Do you?
You test the water
With your big toe
I’m like that
You used to, though
You’d leap into anything
That looked like it
Might promise a good time
But then something happened
You or someone else
Miscalculated
Everything went south
Your feelings went through
The ringer
You thought you were drip-dry
And would shed all that
Emotional stuff
That came along with the spin-cycle
And closeness
But you’re fine linen
You have refined thoughts and tastes
It was hard to get those stains out
Right?
You dress well
Not real showy
But your class shows
You’ve listened to me so far
Because I haven’t been intrusive
You married?
No?
Got a boyfriend?
Oh, that’s a nice answer
What a lovely smile in reply
What are you doing here alone?
Waiting for him?
He should be on time
I’d be on time
So how long should a woman
Wait for a man?
A reasonable amount of time
So you’re reasonable
I’m reasonable!
I’m not lonely or anything
Just talking
Are you lonely?
Do you have a great big rip
In your soul’s fabric?
Ah! That smile again!
You’re never lonely
You learned
Once you got out of that spin cycle
Put everyone else in it
Keep them sort of close
But at arms’ length
Sleeves’ length
Till you get a feel for if
They’re genuine or not
Am I genuine?
Hey! Where you going?
Darn!
Something spooked her
One of two words
Either ‘lonely’ or ‘genuine’
But what a smile she had
A careful smile
A cagey smile
We weren’t alike
She was fine linen
Jacquard from France
Gambroon from Persia
I’m just seersucker
From Sears
Author Bio:
Paul Smith writes fiction and poetry. A lot of new poetry troubles him because it is very oblique. 'Oblique' is a word he learned studying trigonometry or something that prepared him for a BS in Civil Engineering. Maybe that's what's wrong with him.
Except that you’re a woman
I’m not
But we share some of that other stuff
You’re pretty cool, cagey
You don’t jump into things
Do you?
You test the water
With your big toe
I’m like that
You used to, though
You’d leap into anything
That looked like it
Might promise a good time
But then something happened
You or someone else
Miscalculated
Everything went south
Your feelings went through
The ringer
You thought you were drip-dry
And would shed all that
Emotional stuff
That came along with the spin-cycle
And closeness
But you’re fine linen
You have refined thoughts and tastes
It was hard to get those stains out
Right?
You dress well
Not real showy
But your class shows
You’ve listened to me so far
Because I haven’t been intrusive
You married?
No?
Got a boyfriend?
Oh, that’s a nice answer
What a lovely smile in reply
What are you doing here alone?
Waiting for him?
He should be on time
I’d be on time
So how long should a woman
Wait for a man?
A reasonable amount of time
So you’re reasonable
I’m reasonable!
I’m not lonely or anything
Just talking
Are you lonely?
Do you have a great big rip
In your soul’s fabric?
Ah! That smile again!
You’re never lonely
You learned
Once you got out of that spin cycle
Put everyone else in it
Keep them sort of close
But at arms’ length
Sleeves’ length
Till you get a feel for if
They’re genuine or not
Am I genuine?
Hey! Where you going?
Darn!
Something spooked her
One of two words
Either ‘lonely’ or ‘genuine’
But what a smile she had
A careful smile
A cagey smile
We weren’t alike
She was fine linen
Jacquard from France
Gambroon from Persia
I’m just seersucker
From Sears
Author Bio:
Paul Smith writes fiction and poetry. A lot of new poetry troubles him because it is very oblique. 'Oblique' is a word he learned studying trigonometry or something that prepared him for a BS in Civil Engineering. Maybe that's what's wrong with him.
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