Ornery thinking

Ornery thinking

We spoke on phone arranging meeting
Something about taking me to local bar
Since I am not big drinker , i shrugged uncertain
Deciding let things flow as they are

Primed like Cinderella sans crystal slippers
I stepped lovely , entering his car not sure whats next
First question was how do i look ,i said you look ok
Provoking backlash from his part, just ok he said

Yes, you look fine i answered, whats wrong with my words
There was a silence hanging in between us, cutting car in half
What about me i breathed in return, afraid to hear the answer
You are nothing like pictures, i think i take you home

Disgust filled me to the brim, to this middle-aged balding man
With ego matched maybe to Napoleon, certainly about same height , telling me he is a gentleman , i told him shut it no need
Boiling to the apex, smelling the cheap cologne and bad taste
I swore to myself of never let men to demean me , bossing
Slamming the door on him, on arrogance, on his cadaver thinking
Still hurting called my friend asking..am i this ugly? nooooo
You should feel sorry for him , not yourself was an answer
He just short circuited himself, no woman ever tolerate that

So back to looks, what lay beyond them
The ugliness behind the screen of pretty face
Or kindness , golden heart under the ordinary
Damn, the guy was definitely ornery creature
In fact, i probably stepped on his corn , but that beside the point

by Margaret Gudkov
art by Fatima Tomaeva Gabellin